😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,699 in Stavanger versus $1,472 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,150 in Stavanger versus $2,359 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,601 in Stavanger versus $3,245 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Stavanger is roughly 83% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Stavanger103% above, Mexico City11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stavanger
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.22NOK 242
$13.14MX$229
91.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$123NOK 1,180
$53.5MX$934
129.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.08NOK 145
$9.33MX$163
61.63%
Cappuccino
$5.02NOK 48.16
$3.70MX$64.5
35.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.89NOK 37.28
$1.60MX$27.98
143.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40NOK 32.64
$1.12MX$19.49
203.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.99NOK 105
$3.14MX$54.7
250.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.26NOK 98.4
$4.85MX$84.5
111.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stavanger
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.40NOK 22.99
$1.65MX$28.84
45.45%
White Bread(500g)
$3.11NOK 29.80
$2.71MX$47.34
14.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.64NOK 44.54
$1.91MX$33.29
142.93%
Eggs
$4.52NOK 43.38
$2.59MX$45.17
74.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.98NOK 124
$9.81MX$171
32.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.24NOK 156
$8.43MX$147
92.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.67NOK 265
$11.93MX$208
131.94%
Apples(1kg)
$3.53NOK 33.83
$2.95MX$51.5
19.66%
Banana(1kg)
$2.52NOK 24.20
$1.74MX$30.35
44.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.05NOK 29.27
$2.04MX$35.66
49.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.66NOK 44.68
$2.06MX$35.93
126.21%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05NOK 19.66
$2.15MX$37.49
-4.65%
Onion(1kg)
$3.04NOK 29.20
$2.26MX$39.33
34.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.58NOK 24.76
$1.39MX$24.17
85.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.75NOK 16.75
$1.12MX$19.47
56.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.11NOK 145
$4.22MX$73.6
258.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.96NOK 172
$17.51MX$305
2.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.54NOK 33.99
$1.71MX$29.82
107.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08NOK 39.14
$3.63MX$63.4
12.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Stavanger
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.58NOK 43.95
$0.35MX$6.15
1208.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$69.1NOK 663
$19.32MX$337
257.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$15.37NOK 147
$1.38MX$24.00
1013.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07NOK 19.85
$0.28MX$4.81
639.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$103NOK 983
$5.28MX$92.0
1841.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.21NOK 21.17
$1.36MX$23.69
62.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7KNOK 333.0K
$19.1KMX$333.2K
81.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7KNOK 313.8K
$23.6KMX$411.7K
38.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stavanger
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$192NOK 1,842
$40.53MX$707
373.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.41NOK 407
$27.38MX$478
54.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$80.9NOK 776
$30.38MX$530
166.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stavanger
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.8NOK 535
$52.2MX$911
6.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.17NOK 337
$26.48MX$462
32.82%
Cinema Ticket
$19.02NOK 182
$6.19MX$108
207.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stavanger
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$314NOK 3,010
$425MX$7,414
-26.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.9KNOK 123.6K
$10.7KMX$187.2K
19.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stavanger
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$116NOK 1,108
$58.3MX$1,017
98.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.4NOK 560
$44.57MX$777
30.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107NOK 1,030
$103MX$1,805
3.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$157NOK 1,510
$109MX$1,897
44.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stavanger
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595NOK 15.3K
$1,014MX$17.7K
57.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,135NOK 10.9K
$623MX$10.9K
82.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,798NOK 26.8K
$2,119MX$37.0K
32.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,777NOK 17.0K
$1,223MX$21.3K
45.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,005NOK 57.6K
$3,792MX$66.1K
58.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,223NOK 50.1K
$2,110MX$36.8K
147.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stavanger
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,909NOK 47.1K
$1,052MX$18.4K
366.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.51
11.34
-60.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stavanger: July 26, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,595 in Stavanger and $1,014 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Stavanger pays 367% 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: $123 in Stavanger vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $468 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
Stavanger vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Stavanger and in Mexico City?
Stavanger and Mexico City differ by about 83% in total monthly costs ($2,699 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: Stavanger or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 367% higher in Stavanger, 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 Stavanger and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,595 in Stavanger 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 Stavanger and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 258% less than in Stavanger. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Stavanger and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $314 in Stavanger 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 $2,699 in Stavanger, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Stavanger. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Stavanger 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 Stavanger or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Stavanger 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: Stavanger or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 83% less than in Stavanger. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.