Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Tromso Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Tromso

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,677 in Mexico City versus $3,207 in Tromso.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,608 in Mexico City versus $4,683 in Tromso.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,540 in Mexico City versus $6,158 in Tromso.

Living in Mexico City costs roughly 48% less than in Tromso, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 22% above, Tromso 133% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Tromso
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.14 MX$206
$35.31 NOK 328
-65.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9 MX$914
$109 NOK 1,007
-50.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.09 MX$188
$16.16 NOK 150
-31.37%
Cappuccino
$4.10 MX$69.5
$6.89 NOK 64.0
-40.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$28.53
$4.87 NOK 45.15
-65.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 MX$23.55
$3.74 NOK 34.69
-62.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.33 MX$56.5
$12.76 NOK 118
-73.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88 MX$99.7
$14.21 NOK 132
-58.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Tromso
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 MX$31.41
$2.49 NOK 23.11
-25.70%
White Bread (500g)
$3.17 MX$53.8
$3.50 NOK 32.44
-9.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.07 MX$35.13
$4.14 NOK 38.40
-50.00%
Eggs
$2.93 MX$49.67
$5.27 NOK 48.93
-44.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.59 MX$214
$12.44 NOK 115
1.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.11 MX$172
$15.21 NOK 141
-33.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.09 MX$273
$42.53 NOK 395
-62.17%
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 MX$57.5
$4.22 NOK 39.14
-19.67%
Banana (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.26
$3.07 NOK 28.50
-32.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 MX$35.97
$5.35 NOK 49.61
-60.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.41 MX$40.95
$6.40 NOK 59.4
-62.34%
Potato (1kg)
$2.13 MX$36.11
$3.54 NOK 32.82
-39.83%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 MX$34.02
$5.08 NOK 47.11
-60.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.55 MX$26.21
$3.12 NOK 28.93
-50.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 MX$23.15
$2.18 NOK 20.20
-37.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77 MX$97.8
$16.38 NOK 152
-64.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.74 MX$301
$16.47 NOK 153
7.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07 MX$35.11
$4.06 NOK 37.62
-49.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 MX$78.3
$4.77 NOK 44.28
-3.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Tromso
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 MX$6.21
$5.06 NOK 46.94
-92.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.18 MX$359
$69.2 NOK 642
-69.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.05 MX$34.84
$16.36 NOK 152
-87.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 MX$9.79
$2.13 NOK 19.76
-72.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.07 MX$103
$57.6 NOK 534
-89.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 MX$26.34
$2.27 NOK 21.02
-31.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9K MX$388.1K
$49.6K NOK 460.4K
-53.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K MX$462.0K
$45.6K NOK 422.8K
-40.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Tromso
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$67.4 MX$1,144
$266 NOK 2,471
-74.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.62 MX$520
$51.3 NOK 476
-40.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.24 MX$632
$86.2 NOK 799
-56.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Tromso
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.5 MX$1,043
$51.9 NOK 481
18.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.12 MX$460
$47.90 NOK 444
-43.38%
Cinema Ticket
$7.11 MX$121
$17.98 NOK 167
-60.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Tromso
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$456 MX$7,739
$329 NOK 3,048
38.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.7K MX$232.3K
$7,733 NOK 71.7K
77.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Tromso
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.2 MX$1,259
$68.1 NOK 632
8.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.0 MX$967
$35.40 NOK 328
61.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 MX$1,958
$149 NOK 1,385
-22.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 MX$2,061
$165 NOK 1,532
-26.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Tromso
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,148 MX$19.5K
$1,558 NOK 14.5K
-26.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$709 MX$12.0K
$1,296 NOK 12.0K
-45.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,577 MX$43.7K
$2,781 NOK 25.8K
-7.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,295 MX$22.0K
$2,039 NOK 18.9K
-36.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,005 MX$67.9K
$7,137 NOK 66.2K
-43.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,130 MX$36.1K
$5,526 NOK 51.3K
-61.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Tromso
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,082 MX$18.4K
$4,292 NOK 39.8K
-74.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
5.01
125.55%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026

Last update for Tromso: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,148 in Mexico City and $1,558 in Tromso. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tromso pays 297% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $109 in Tromso for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $554 per month, with Mexico City cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Mexico City vs Tromso: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Tromso?
Mexico City and Tromso differ by about 91% in total monthly costs ($1,677 vs $3,207 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 297% lower in Tromso. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and in Tromso?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,148 in Mexico City versus $1,558 in Tromso. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and in Tromso?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 227% less than in Tromso. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Tromso?
Childcare runs $456 in Mexico City versus $329 in Tromso. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,677 in Mexico City versus $3,207 in Tromso, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Tromso. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Tromso?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Mexico City or Tromso safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Tromso are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Tromso?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 91% less than in Tromso. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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