😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,218 in Stavanger versus $1,677 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,673 in Stavanger versus $2,608 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,128 in Stavanger versus $3,540 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Stavanger is roughly 92% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Stavanger133% above, Mexico City22% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stavanger
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.27NOK 234
$12.14MX$206
108.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$97.7NOK 906
$53.9MX$914
81.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.20NOK 150
$11.09MX$188
46.08%
Cappuccino
$6.50NOK 60.3
$4.10MX$69.5
58.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.65NOK 52.4
$1.68MX$28.53
236.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62NOK 42.85
$1.39MX$23.55
232.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$13.72NOK 127
$3.33MX$56.5
312.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$12.21NOK 113
$5.88MX$99.7
107.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stavanger
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.39NOK 22.16
$1.85MX$31.41
29.19%
White Bread(500g)
$3.69NOK 34.25
$3.17MX$53.8
16.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.04NOK 37.50
$2.07MX$35.13
95.17%
Eggs
$5.03NOK 46.67
$2.93MX$49.67
71.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.21NOK 141
$12.59MX$214
20.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$17.62NOK 163
$10.11MX$172
74.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$35.78NOK 332
$16.09MX$273
122.37%
Apples(1kg)
$3.58NOK 33.17
$3.39MX$57.5
5.60%
Banana(1kg)
$2.90NOK 26.88
$2.08MX$35.26
39.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.63NOK 33.71
$2.12MX$35.97
71.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.87NOK 45.18
$2.41MX$40.95
102.07%
Potato(1kg)
$2.62NOK 24.32
$2.13MX$36.11
23.00%
Onion(1kg)
$3.24NOK 30.03
$2.01MX$34.02
61.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.85NOK 26.41
$1.55MX$26.21
83.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.31NOK 21.43
$1.36MX$23.15
69.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.75NOK 165
$5.77MX$97.8
207.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.90NOK 175
$17.74MX$301
6.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.03NOK 37.43
$2.07MX$35.11
94.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53NOK 42.06
$4.61MX$78.3
-1.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Stavanger
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.75NOK 44.10
$0.37MX$6.21
1183.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.1NOK 808
$21.18MX$359
311.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.21NOK 57.6
$2.05MX$34.84
202.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.80NOK 16.70
$0.58MX$9.79
210.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$105NOK 971
$6.07MX$103
1625.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.29NOK 21.25
$1.55MX$26.34
47.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.3KNOK 466.2K
$22.9KMX$388.1K
119.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.0KNOK 398.5K
$27.2KMX$462.0K
57.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stavanger
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$261NOK 2,424
$67.4MX$1,144
287.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.80NOK 332
$30.62MX$520
16.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$85.6NOK 794
$37.24MX$632
129.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stavanger
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1NOK 484
$61.5MX$1,043
-15.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.84NOK 351
$27.12MX$460
39.53%
Cinema Ticket
$22.77NOK 211
$7.11MX$121
220.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stavanger
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$332NOK 3,079
$456MX$7,739
-27.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.2KNOK 132.2K
$13.7KMX$232.3K
4.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stavanger
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$127NOK 1,182
$74.2MX$1,259
71.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.6NOK 571
$57.0MX$967
8.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$156NOK 1,447
$115MX$1,958
35.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$206NOK 1,914
$122MX$2,061
69.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stavanger
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,757NOK 16.3K
$1,148MX$19.5K
53.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,393NOK 12.9K
$709MX$12.0K
96.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,793NOK 25.9K
$2,577MX$43.7K
8.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,062NOK 19.1K
$1,295MX$22.0K
59.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,206NOK 57.6K
$4,005MX$67.9K
54.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,375NOK 49.9K
$2,130MX$36.1K
152.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stavanger
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,012NOK 46.5K
$1,082MX$18.4K
363.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.27
11.3
-53.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stavanger: September 6, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,757 in Stavanger and $1,148 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Stavanger pays 363% 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: $98.0 in Stavanger vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $533 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
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 92% in total monthly costs ($3,218 vs $1,677 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 363% 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: $1,757 in Stavanger versus $1,148 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 311% 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 $332 in Stavanger versus $456 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 $1,677 in Mexico City versus $3,218 in Stavanger, a $3,000 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 92% less than in Stavanger. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.