😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,531 in Sarpsborg versus $1,472 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,800 in Sarpsborg versus $2,359 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,068 in Sarpsborg versus $3,245 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Sarpsborg is roughly 72% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sarpsborg90% above, Mexico City11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sarpsborg
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$38.33NOK 368
$13.14MX$229
191.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.9NOK 891
$53.5MX$934
73.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$18.37NOK 176
$9.33MX$163
96.89%
Cappuccino
$5.45NOK 52.3
$3.70MX$64.5
47.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74NOK 26.26
$1.60MX$27.98
71.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50NOK 23.96
$1.12MX$19.49
123.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.92NOK 56.8
$3.14MX$54.7
88.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.85NOK 75.3
$4.85MX$84.5
61.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sarpsborg
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.25NOK 21.60
$1.65MX$28.84
36.36%
White Bread(500g)
$3.43NOK 32.87
$2.71MX$47.34
26.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.30NOK 31.69
$1.91MX$33.29
72.77%
Eggs
$4.35NOK 41.68
$2.59MX$45.17
67.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.81NOK 113
$9.81MX$171
20.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.83NOK 142
$8.43MX$147
75.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.38NOK 263
$11.93MX$208
129.51%
Apples(1kg)
$3.53NOK 33.89
$2.95MX$51.5
19.66%
Banana(1kg)
$2.49NOK 23.86
$1.74MX$30.35
43.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.31NOK 31.78
$2.04MX$35.66
62.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.40NOK 42.21
$2.06MX$35.93
113.59%
Potato(1kg)
$2.45NOK 23.51
$2.15MX$37.49
13.95%
Onion(1kg)
$2.56NOK 24.60
$2.26MX$39.33
13.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.76NOK 26.52
$1.39MX$24.17
98.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.82NOK 17.41
$1.12MX$19.47
62.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.07NOK 145
$4.22MX$73.6
257.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.63NOK 160
$17.51MX$305
-5.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.28NOK 31.48
$1.71MX$29.82
91.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98NOK 38.21
$3.63MX$63.4
9.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Sarpsborg
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.51NOK 24.12
$0.35MX$6.15
617.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.1NOK 701
$19.32MX$337
278.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.02NOK 96.1
$1.38MX$24.00
626.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.45NOK 13.93
$0.28MX$4.81
417.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$46.91NOK 450
$5.28MX$92.0
788.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08NOK 19.92
$1.36MX$23.69
52.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.1KNOK 346.1K
$19.1KMX$333.2K
88.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2KNOK 376.1K
$23.6KMX$411.7K
66.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sarpsborg
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$238NOK 2,282
$40.53MX$707
486.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.73NOK 372
$27.38MX$478
41.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.2NOK 529
$30.38MX$530
81.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sarpsborg
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.40NOK 474
$52.2MX$911
-5.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.87NOK 334
$26.48MX$462
31.68%
Cinema Ticket
$16.78NOK 161
$6.19MX$108
171.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sarpsborg
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$288NOK 2,761
$425MX$7,414
-32.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.1KNOK 97.0K
$10.7KMX$187.2K
-5.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sarpsborg
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.4NOK 915
$58.3MX$1,017
63.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.7NOK 506
$44.57MX$777
18.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106NOK 1,021
$103MX$1,805
2.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$151NOK 1,449
$109MX$1,897
38.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sarpsborg
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,192NOK 11.4K
$1,014MX$17.7K
17.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$885NOK 8,493
$623MX$10.9K
42.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,532NOK 14.7K
$2,119MX$37.0K
-27.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,290NOK 12.4K
$1,223MX$21.3K
5.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,754NOK 55.2K
$3,792MX$66.1K
51.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,063NOK 39.0K
$2,110MX$36.8K
92.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sarpsborg
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,612NOK 25.1K
$1,052MX$18.4K
148.27%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,192 in Sarpsborg and $1,014 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sarpsborg pays 148% 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: $93.0 in Sarpsborg vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $450 vs $293 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 72% in total monthly costs ($2,531 vs $1,472 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 148% 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: $1,192 in Sarpsborg versus $1,014 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 278% 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 $288 in Sarpsborg versus $425 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 $1,472 in Mexico City versus $2,531 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 72% less than in Sarpsborg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.