😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,463 in Molde versus $1,484 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,636 in Molde versus $2,381 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,808 in Molde versus $3,278 in Mexico City.
😐Living in Molde is roughly 66% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Molde84% above, Mexico City11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Molde
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.70NOK 239
$12.98MX$226
98.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.6NOK 742
$53.1MX$923
49.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.48NOK 126
$9.72MX$169
38.68%
Cappuccino
$5.16NOK 48.10
$3.75MX$65.2
37.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77NOK 25.80
$1.57MX$27.30
76.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62NOK 24.43
$1.13MX$19.64
131.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.27NOK 86.4
$3.18MX$55.3
191.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.93NOK 92.5
$4.66MX$81.1
113.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Molde
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.20NOK 20.47
$1.62MX$28.21
35.80%
White Bread(500g)
$3.08NOK 28.69
$2.71MX$47.09
13.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.77NOK 35.13
$1.88MX$32.70
100.53%
Eggs
$3.08NOK 28.68
$2.51MX$43.65
22.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.28NOK 86.5
$10.08MX$175
-7.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$17.33NOK 162
$8.29MX$144
109.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.43NOK 256
$11.94MX$208
129.73%
Apples(1kg)
$2.49NOK 23.16
$2.86MX$49.77
-12.94%
Banana(1kg)
$3.13NOK 29.16
$1.75MX$30.45
78.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.39NOK 31.61
$2.08MX$36.27
62.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.70NOK 53.1
$1.97MX$34.27
189.34%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56NOK 14.55
$2.16MX$37.58
-27.78%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27NOK 21.13
$2.18MX$37.94
4.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.58NOK 24.09
$1.39MX$24.20
85.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.83NOK 17.02
$1.12MX$19.57
63.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.19NOK 169
$4.20MX$73.1
333.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.75NOK 156
$14.25MX$248
17.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.85NOK 26.57
$1.76MX$30.68
61.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08NOK 38.04
$3.68MX$64.1
10.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Molde
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.20NOK 39.13
$0.39MX$6.71
976.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.8NOK 753
$18.66MX$325
333.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.31NOK 96.1
$1.39MX$24.12
641.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.46NOK 13.63
$0.30MX$5.29
386.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$47.39NOK 442
$5.42MX$94.3
774.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.14NOK 19.97
$1.35MX$23.50
58.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9KNOK 325.0K
$18.9KMX$328.6K
84.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.0KNOK 353.8K
$23.2KMX$402.8K
63.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Molde
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$241NOK 2,244
$40.82MX$710
489.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.28NOK 357
$27.50MX$479
39.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.6NOK 509
$30.38MX$529
79.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Molde
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.56NOK 462
$53.4MX$930
-7.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.44NOK 330
$26.30MX$458
34.75%
Cinema Ticket
$16.43NOK 153
$6.27MX$109
162.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Molde
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$200NOK 1,862
$436MX$7,588
-54.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.3KNOK 95.8K
$10.5KMX$182.1K
-1.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Molde
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.8NOK 902
$56.8MX$988
70.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.0NOK 494
$44.79MX$779
18.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101NOK 937
$103MX$1,789
-2.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$154NOK 1,435
$108MX$1,878
42.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Molde
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,211NOK 11.3K
$1,000MX$17.4K
21.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$901NOK 8,399
$620MX$10.8K
45.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,416NOK 13.2K
$2,137MX$37.2K
-33.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,415NOK 13.2K
$1,235MX$21.5K
14.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,886NOK 64.2K
$3,865MX$67.3K
78.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,940NOK 46.0K
$2,332MX$40.6K
111.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Molde
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,728NOK 34.7K
$1,067MX$18.6K
249.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.75
11.34
-66.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Molde: April 26, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,211 in Molde and $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Molde pays 249% 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: $80.0 in Molde vs $53.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $448 vs $286 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
Molde vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Molde and Mexico City?
Molde and Mexico City differ by about 66% in total monthly costs ($2,463 vs $1,484 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Molde or Mexico City?
Molde pays 249% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Molde and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,211 in Molde versus $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Molde and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 333% less than in Molde. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Molde and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $200 in Molde versus $436 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,484 in Mexico City versus $2,463 in Molde, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Molde. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Molde and Mexico City?
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 Molde or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Molde and Mexico City 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: Molde or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 66% less than in Molde. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.