😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,689 in Stavanger versus $1,447 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,070 in Stavanger versus $2,310 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,451 in Stavanger versus $3,174 in Mexico City.
😐Living in Stavanger is roughly 86% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Stavanger100% above, Mexico City8% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stavanger
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.39NOK 241
$12.98MX$223
95.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$120NOK 1,138
$52.6MX$903
127.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.31NOK 145
$9.43MX$162
62.35%
Cappuccino
$5.03NOK 47.77
$3.57MX$61.3
40.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88NOK 36.83
$1.61MX$27.55
140.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47NOK 32.89
$1.15MX$19.81
201.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.98NOK 104
$3.15MX$54.0
248.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.21NOK 96.9
$4.86MX$83.4
110.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stavanger
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.31NOK 21.93
$1.70MX$29.17
35.88%
White Bread(500g)
$3.12NOK 29.59
$2.64MX$45.23
18.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.58NOK 43.48
$1.90MX$32.67
141.05%
Eggs
$4.48NOK 42.52
$2.54MX$43.62
76.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.90NOK 122
$10.08MX$173
27.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.73NOK 159
$8.29MX$142
101.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.83NOK 264
$11.57MX$199
140.54%
Apples(1kg)
$3.48NOK 33.01
$3.03MX$52.0
14.85%
Banana(1kg)
$2.64NOK 25.03
$1.71MX$29.35
54.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.11NOK 29.53
$2.05MX$35.16
51.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.68NOK 44.37
$2.06MX$35.36
127.18%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08NOK 19.77
$2.06MX$35.43
0.97%
Onion(1kg)
$3.08NOK 29.27
$2.17MX$37.25
41.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.47NOK 23.47
$1.40MX$24.08
76.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.83NOK 17.38
$1.12MX$19.26
63.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.97NOK 142
$4.29MX$73.7
248.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.46NOK 175
$15.41MX$265
19.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.68NOK 34.89
$1.67MX$28.74
120.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.10NOK 38.90
$3.69MX$63.3
11.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Stavanger
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.58NOK 43.47
$0.38MX$6.55
1105.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$68.6NOK 651
$19.06MX$327
259.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$15.31NOK 145
$1.38MX$23.70
1009.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.06NOK 19.57
$0.28MX$4.74
635.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$100NOK 953
$5.42MX$92.9
1751.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.11NOK 20.01
$1.28MX$21.98
64.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4KNOK 326.1K
$19.0KMX$325.8K
80.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4KNOK 307.3K
$23.5KMX$402.7K
37.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stavanger
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$190NOK 1,806
$41.02MX$704
363.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.20NOK 401
$26.92MX$462
56.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$83.1NOK 789
$29.69MX$510
179.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stavanger
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.9NOK 531
$52.3MX$898
6.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.16NOK 334
$26.23MX$450
34.04%
Cinema Ticket
$19.57NOK 186
$6.18MX$106
216.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stavanger
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$321NOK 3,048
$427MX$7,331
-24.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.0KNOK 123.1K
$10.7KMX$183.6K
21.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stavanger
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$116NOK 1,098
$56.8MX$975
103.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0NOK 550
$44.83MX$769
29.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107NOK 1,017
$105MX$1,794
2.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$160NOK 1,519
$106MX$1,819
51.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stavanger
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595NOK 15.1K
$995MX$17.1K
60.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,126NOK 10.7K
$621MX$10.7K
81.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,732NOK 25.9K
$2,126MX$36.5K
28.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,774NOK 16.8K
$1,254MX$21.5K
41.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,036NOK 57.3K
$3,903MX$67.0K
54.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,366NOK 50.9K
$2,096MX$36.0K
156.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stavanger
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,104NOK 48.4K
$1,107MX$19.0K
360.99%
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,595 in Stavanger and $995 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Stavanger pays 361% 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: $120 in Stavanger vs $53.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $473 vs $288 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 Mexico City?
Stavanger and Mexico City differ by about 86% in total monthly costs ($2,689 vs $1,447 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?
Stavanger pays 361% more on average, 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 Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,595 in Stavanger versus $995 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 Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 260% 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 $321 in Stavanger versus $427 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 $1,447 in Mexico City versus $2,689 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 86% less than in Stavanger. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.