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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,620 in Selfoss versus $1,677 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,533 in Selfoss versus $2,608 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,446 in Selfoss versus $3,540 in Mexico City.

Living in Selfoss is roughly 116% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Selfoss 162% above, Mexico City 22% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.14 MX$206

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.9 MX$914

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.86 ISK 2,513

$11.09 MX$188

88.10%

Cappuccino

$4.10 MX$69.5

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$28.53

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 MX$23.55

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.30 ISK 1,482

$3.33 MX$56.5

269.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 MX$99.7

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ISK 208

$1.85 MX$31.41

-6.49%

White Bread (500g)

$7.67 ISK 924

$3.17 MX$53.8

141.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.62 ISK 557

$2.07 MX$35.13

123.19%

Eggs

$6.66 ISK 802

$2.93 MX$49.67

127.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.37 ISK 2,093

$12.59 MX$214

37.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$21.79 ISK 2,625

$10.11 MX$172

115.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$33.42 ISK 4,025

$16.09 MX$273

107.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 ISK 328

$3.39 MX$57.5

-19.76%

Banana (1kg)

$2.71 ISK 327

$2.08 MX$35.26

30.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.64 ISK 318

$2.12 MX$35.97

24.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.16 ISK 863

$2.41 MX$40.95

197.10%

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 ISK 380

$2.13 MX$36.11

47.89%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 ISK 263

$2.01 MX$34.02

8.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.67 ISK 442

$1.55 MX$26.21

136.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 ISK 163

$1.36 MX$23.15

-0.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.90 ISK 1,915

$5.77 MX$97.8

175.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.74 MX$301

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 MX$35.11

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 ISK 135

$4.61 MX$78.3

-75.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 MX$6.21

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.18 MX$359

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 MX$34.84

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 MX$9.79

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 MX$103

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 MX$26.34

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.9K MX$388.1K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.2K MX$462.0K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$67.4 MX$1,144

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$30.62 MX$520

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.24 MX$632

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 MX$1,043

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.12 MX$460

Cinema Ticket

$7.11 MX$121

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$456 MX$7,739

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.7K MX$232.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.2 MX$1,259

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.0 MX$967

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 MX$1,958

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 MX$2,061

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 MX$19.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,850 ISK 343.3K

$709 MX$12.0K

301.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,577 MX$43.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,295 MX$22.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,005 MX$67.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,130 MX$36.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,082 MX$18.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

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

Last update for Selfoss: September 6, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026

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

Selfoss vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Selfoss and Mexico City differ by about 116% in total monthly costs ($3,620 vs $1,677 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $5,430 in Selfoss and $2,515 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 52% higher in Selfoss. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,620 per month in Selfoss versus $1,677 in Mexico City – a 116% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,677 in Mexico City versus $3,620 in Selfoss, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Selfoss. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Selfoss 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.

Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 116% less than in Selfoss. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.