😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,496 in Sarpsborg versus $1,466 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,763 in Sarpsborg versus $2,325 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,030 in Sarpsborg versus $3,184 in Mexico City.
😐Living in Sarpsborg is roughly 70% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sarpsborg86% above, Mexico City9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sarpsborg
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$38.11NOK 354
$13.30MX$231
186.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$95.2NOK 885
$53.8MX$932
76.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$18.27NOK 170
$9.42MX$163
93.95%
Cappuccino
$5.25NOK 48.85
$3.59MX$62.3
46.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74NOK 25.44
$1.62MX$28.13
69.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56NOK 23.79
$1.12MX$19.49
128.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.24NOK 58.1
$3.25MX$56.3
92.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.89NOK 73.4
$4.65MX$80.6
69.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sarpsborg
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.22NOK 20.61
$1.64MX$28.37
35.37%
White Bread(500g)
$3.28NOK 30.50
$2.65MX$46.00
23.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.32NOK 30.86
$1.96MX$33.99
69.39%
Eggs
$4.43NOK 41.21
$2.54MX$44.08
74.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.12NOK 113
$9.97MX$173
21.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.90NOK 139
$8.39MX$145
77.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.08NOK 261
$11.83MX$205
137.36%
Apples(1kg)
$3.48NOK 32.38
$2.86MX$49.62
21.68%
Banana(1kg)
$2.48NOK 23.07
$1.73MX$30.05
43.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.41NOK 31.71
$1.99MX$34.50
71.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.38NOK 40.76
$2.05MX$35.51
113.66%
Potato(1kg)
$2.45NOK 22.76
$2.06MX$35.64
18.93%
Onion(1kg)
$2.54NOK 23.62
$2.28MX$39.54
11.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.75NOK 25.59
$1.45MX$25.05
89.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.92NOK 17.86
$1.09MX$18.83
76.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.92NOK 139
$4.27MX$73.9
249.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.21NOK 179
$14.67MX$254
30.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.34NOK 31.03
$1.76MX$30.58
89.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08NOK 37.91
$3.57MX$61.8
14.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Sarpsborg
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.49NOK 23.17
$0.38MX$6.67
555.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$74.4NOK 691
$18.73MX$325
296.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.19NOK 94.8
$1.39MX$24.09
633.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.39NOK 12.92
$0.30MX$5.26
363.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$47.55NOK 442
$5.41MX$93.8
778.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.03NOK 18.89
$1.34MX$23.22
51.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1KNOK 326.0K
$18.9KMX$326.7K
85.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.2KNOK 354.9K
$23.2KMX$402.0K
64.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sarpsborg
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$240NOK 2,232
$40.30MX$698
495.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.83NOK 352
$27.15MX$471
39.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.0NOK 521
$29.46MX$510
90.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sarpsborg
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.58NOK 461
$52.7MX$914
-5.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.07NOK 335
$26.17MX$454
37.83%
Cinema Ticket
$16.71NOK 155
$6.18MX$107
170.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sarpsborg
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$279NOK 2,593
$441MX$7,637
-36.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.1KNOK 93.6K
$10.7KMX$185.4K
-5.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sarpsborg
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.6NOK 898
$57.2MX$992
68.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.3NOK 477
$45.04MX$781
13.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108NOK 1,003
$103MX$1,793
4.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$154NOK 1,437
$109MX$1,884
42.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sarpsborg
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,222NOK 11.4K
$1,000MX$17.3K
22.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$904NOK 8,404
$632MX$11.0K
42.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,514NOK 14.1K
$2,141MX$37.1K
-29.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,342NOK 12.5K
$1,253MX$21.7K
7.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,929NOK 64.4K
$3,745MX$64.9K
85.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,477NOK 41.6K
$2,381MX$41.3K
88.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sarpsborg
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,079MX$18.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.38
11.34
-61.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sarpsborg: April 20, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,222 in Sarpsborg and $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $95 in Sarpsborg vs $54 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $459 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
Sarpsborg vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sarpsborg and Mexico City?
Sarpsborg and Mexico City differ by about 70% in total monthly costs ($2,496 vs $1,466 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Sarpsborg compared to Mexico City?
You'd need roughly $3,744 in Sarpsborg and $2,199 in Mexico City to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Sarpsborg and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,222 in Sarpsborg 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 Sarpsborg and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 297% less than in Sarpsborg. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Sarpsborg and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $279 in Sarpsborg versus $441 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 $1,466 in Mexico City versus $2,496 in Sarpsborg, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Sarpsborg. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Sarpsborg 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 Sarpsborg or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Sarpsborg 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: Sarpsborg or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 70% less than in Sarpsborg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.