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: $3,533 in Selfoss versus $1,447 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,478 in Selfoss versus $2,310 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,422 in Selfoss versus $3,174 in Mexico City.

Living in Selfoss is roughly 144% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Selfoss 163% above, Mexico City 8% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.98 MX$223

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.6 MX$903

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$19.63 ISK 2,444

$9.43 MX$162

108.17%

Cappuccino

$3.57 MX$61.3

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

$1.61 MX$27.55

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 MX$19.81

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.26 ISK 1,527

$3.15 MX$54.0

289.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 MX$83.4

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 ISK 218

$1.70 MX$29.17

2.94%

White Bread (500g)

$7.42 ISK 924

$2.64 MX$45.23

181.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.32 ISK 538

$1.90 MX$32.67

127.37%

Eggs

$6.22 ISK 774

$2.54 MX$43.62

144.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.97 ISK 2,113

$10.08 MX$173

68.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$21.17 ISK 2,635

$8.29 MX$142

155.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$33.10 ISK 4,121

$11.57 MX$199

186.08%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ISK 344

$3.03 MX$52.0

-8.91%

Banana (1kg)

$2.59 ISK 322

$1.71 MX$29.35

51.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 ISK 320

$2.05 MX$35.16

25.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.15 ISK 891

$2.06 MX$35.36

247.09%

Potato (1kg)

$3.14 ISK 391

$2.06 MX$35.43

52.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.07 ISK 257

$2.17 MX$37.25

-4.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.59 ISK 447

$1.40 MX$24.08

156.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 ISK 167

$1.12 MX$19.26

19.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.37 ISK 1,914

$4.29 MX$73.7

258.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.41 MX$265

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.74

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 ISK 137

$3.69 MX$63.3

-70.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.55

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.06 MX$327

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.70

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.74

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$92.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 MX$21.98

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

$19.0K MX$325.8K

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

$23.5K MX$402.7K

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

$41.02 MX$704

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

$26.92 MX$462

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.69 MX$510

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.3 MX$898

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.23 MX$450

Cinema Ticket

$6.18 MX$106

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

$427 MX$7,331

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$183.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$975

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.83 MX$769

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MX$1,794

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,819

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$995 MX$17.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,884 ISK 359.0K

$621 MX$10.7K

364.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 MX$36.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,254 MX$21.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,096 MX$36.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,107 MX$19.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

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

Last update for Selfoss: June 8, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 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 144% in total monthly costs ($3,533 vs $1,447 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $5,299 in Selfoss and $2,171 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 78% higher in Selfoss. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,533 per month in Selfoss versus $1,447 in Mexico City – a 144% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,447 in Mexico City versus $3,533 in Selfoss, a $2,000 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 144% less than in Selfoss. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.