😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,410 in Molde versus $1,447 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,669 in Molde versus $2,310 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,929 in Molde versus $3,174 in Mexico City.
😐Living in Molde is roughly 67% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Molde79% above, Mexico City8% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Molde
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.59NOK 243
$12.98MX$223
97.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.4NOK 754
$52.6MX$903
50.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.54NOK 129
$9.43MX$162
43.58%
Cappuccino
$5.18NOK 49.13
$3.57MX$61.3
45.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88NOK 27.32
$1.61MX$27.55
78.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66NOK 25.26
$1.15MX$19.81
131.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.06NOK 86.0
$3.15MX$54.0
187.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.96NOK 94.6
$4.86MX$83.4
104.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Molde
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.20NOK 20.87
$1.70MX$29.17
29.41%
White Bread(500g)
$3.01NOK 28.58
$2.64MX$45.23
14.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.87NOK 36.76
$1.90MX$32.67
103.68%
Eggs
$3.09NOK 29.28
$2.54MX$43.62
21.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05NOK 85.9
$10.08MX$173
-10.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.79NOK 159
$8.29MX$142
102.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.72NOK 263
$11.57MX$199
139.59%
Apples(1kg)
$2.50NOK 23.75
$3.03MX$52.0
-17.49%
Banana(1kg)
$3.06NOK 29.03
$1.71MX$29.35
78.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.38NOK 32.13
$2.05MX$35.16
64.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.55NOK 52.6
$2.06MX$35.36
169.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53NOK 14.56
$2.06MX$35.43
-25.73%
Onion(1kg)
$2.29NOK 21.70
$2.17MX$37.25
5.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.58NOK 24.46
$1.40MX$24.08
84.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.84NOK 17.51
$1.12MX$19.26
64.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.27NOK 173
$4.29MX$73.7
325.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.17NOK 173
$15.41MX$265
17.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.91NOK 27.65
$1.67MX$28.74
74.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.01NOK 38.06
$3.69MX$63.3
8.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Molde
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.31NOK 40.89
$0.38MX$6.55
1034.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$82.8NOK 786
$19.06MX$327
334.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.18NOK 96.6
$1.38MX$23.70
637.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.38NOK 13.10
$0.28MX$4.74
392.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$47.05NOK 447
$5.42MX$92.9
768.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.24NOK 21.31
$1.28MX$21.98
75.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.9KNOK 340.5K
$19.0KMX$325.8K
89.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.0KNOK 370.5K
$23.5KMX$402.7K
66.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Molde
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$241NOK 2,291
$41.02MX$704
488.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.92NOK 360
$26.92MX$462
40.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.6NOK 518
$29.69MX$510
83.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Molde
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.0NOK 475
$52.3MX$898
-4.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.26NOK 335
$26.23MX$450
34.43%
Cinema Ticket
$16.69NOK 158
$6.18MX$106
170.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Molde
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$200NOK 1,901
$427MX$7,331
-53.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.3KNOK 97.5K
$10.7KMX$183.6K
-3.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Molde
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.7NOK 927
$56.8MX$975
71.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.3NOK 497
$44.83MX$769
16.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102NOK 964
$105MX$1,794
-2.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$151NOK 1,434
$106MX$1,819
42.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Molde
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,174NOK 11.1K
$995MX$17.1K
17.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$903NOK 8,574
$621MX$10.7K
45.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,439NOK 13.7K
$2,126MX$36.5K
-32.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,456NOK 13.8K
$1,254MX$21.5K
16.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,190NOK 58.8K
$3,903MX$67.0K
58.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,482NOK 42.5K
$2,096MX$36.0K
113.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Molde
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,624NOK 34.4K
$1,107MX$19.0K
227.29%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,174 in Molde and $995 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Molde pays 227% 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: $79.0 in Molde vs $53.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $447 vs $288 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 67% in total monthly costs ($2,410 vs $1,447 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 227% 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: $1,174 in Molde versus $995 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 335% 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 $427 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 $1,447 in Mexico City versus $2,410 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 67% less than in Molde. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.