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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,802 in Sarpsborg versus $1,660 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,162 in Sarpsborg versus $2,565 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,521 in Sarpsborg versus $3,470 in Mexico City.

Living in Sarpsborg is roughly 69% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sarpsborg 105% above, Mexico City 21% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sarpsborg
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$40.12 NOK 378
$11.92 MX$205
236.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$107 NOK 1,010
$51.6 MX$886
107.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$19.57 NOK 184
$11.41 MX$196
71.52%
Cappuccino
$5.76 NOK 54.2
$3.99 MX$68.6
44.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 NOK 27.36
$1.66 MX$28.48
74.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 NOK 25.01
$1.33 MX$22.77
99.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.82 NOK 83.1
$3.47 MX$59.6
154.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.73 NOK 111
$5.90 MX$101
98.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sarpsborg
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.36 NOK 22.23
$1.88 MX$32.21
25.53%
White Bread (500g)
$3.30 NOK 31.09
$3.25 MX$55.9
1.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.76 NOK 35.40
$2.16 MX$37.10
74.07%
Eggs
$5.08 NOK 47.89
$2.90 MX$49.72
75.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.87 NOK 121
$12.86 MX$221
0.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.59 NOK 147
$10.05 MX$173
55.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$29.86 NOK 281
$15.86 MX$272
88.27%
Apples (1kg)
$3.49 NOK 32.89
$3.29 MX$56.6
6.08%
Banana (1kg)
$2.78 NOK 26.15
$2.01 MX$34.44
38.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.60 NOK 33.89
$2.20 MX$37.76
63.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.52 NOK 42.57
$2.36 MX$40.44
91.53%
Potato (1kg)
$2.60 NOK 24.50
$2.05 MX$35.27
26.83%
Onion (1kg)
$2.98 NOK 28.07
$1.90 MX$32.64
56.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.11 NOK 29.29
$1.61 MX$27.55
93.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 NOK 21.96
$1.40 MX$23.98
66.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.68 NOK 185
$5.46 MX$93.8
260.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.86 NOK 168
$17.65 MX$303
1.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.61 NOK 34.02
$2.06 MX$35.28
75.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.32 NOK 40.73
$4.68 MX$80.4
-7.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Sarpsborg
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.70 NOK 25.45
$0.34 MX$5.81
694.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.7 NOK 732
$20.81 MX$357
273.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$10.98 NOK 103
$2.10 MX$35.99
422.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 NOK 18.38
$0.56 MX$9.60
248.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$73.9 NOK 696
$5.81 MX$99.8
1171.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.18 NOK 20.52
$1.61 MX$27.56
35.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.0K NOK 423.5K
$22.8K MX$392.1K
96.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.2K NOK 378.4K
$26.8K MX$459.2K
50.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sarpsborg
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$273 NOK 2,570
$65.2 MX$1,119
318.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.00 NOK 283
$30.09 MX$517
-0.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.3 NOK 559
$37.18 MX$638
59.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sarpsborg
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.4 NOK 484
$59.8 MX$1,026
-13.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$32.10 NOK 302
$26.55 MX$456
20.90%
Cinema Ticket
$16.91 NOK 159
$7.04 MX$121
140.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sarpsborg
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$253 NOK 2,383
$465 MX$7,976
-45.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.2K NOK 124.2K
$13.3K MX$227.8K
-0.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sarpsborg
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.1 NOK 914
$75.9 MX$1,303
27.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.2 NOK 492
$56.0 MX$960
-6.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 NOK 1,065
$112 MX$1,920
1.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$182 NOK 1,711
$121 MX$2,068
50.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sarpsborg
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,257 NOK 11.8K
$1,103 MX$18.9K
14.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,038 NOK 9,782
$721 MX$12.4K
44.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,609 NOK 15.2K
$2,530 MX$43.4K
-36.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,388 NOK 13.1K
$1,293 MX$22.2K
7.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,265 NOK 59.0K
$3,991 MX$68.5K
56.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,159 NOK 39.2K
$2,090 MX$35.9K
99.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sarpsborg
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,721 NOK 25.6K
$1,037 MX$17.8K
162.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.18
11.3
-54.16%

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

Last update for Sarpsborg: September 15, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,257 in Sarpsborg and $1,103 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sarpsborg pays 162% 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: $107 in Sarpsborg vs $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $486 vs $345 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 in Mexico City?
Sarpsborg and Mexico City differ by about 69% in total monthly costs ($2,802 vs $1,660 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Sarpsborg or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 162% higher in Sarpsborg, 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 Sarpsborg and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,257 in Sarpsborg versus $1,103 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 in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 273% 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 $253 in Sarpsborg versus $465 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 $3,000 per month?
At $1,660 in Mexico City versus $2,802 in Sarpsborg, a $3,000 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 69% less than in Sarpsborg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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