πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,929 in Tromso versus $1,467 in Mexico City.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $4,342 in Tromso versus $2,371 in Mexico City.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,756 in Tromso versus $3,274 in Mexico City.
πLiving in Tromso is roughly 100% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πBoth cities are pricier than the global median: Tromso119% above, Mexico City10% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Tromso
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$32.45NOKΒ 301
$13.18MX$228
146.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$121NOKΒ 1,124
$53.9MX$932
124.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.08NOKΒ 140
$9.42MX$163
60.08%
Cappuccino
$6.17NOKΒ 57.4
$3.55MX$61.4
73.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58NOKΒ 42.52
$1.62MX$27.98
182.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44NOKΒ 31.97
$1.11MX$19.27
209.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.21NOKΒ 104
$3.12MX$54.0
259.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.08NOKΒ 103
$4.63MX$80.1
139.31%
π Groceries & Markets
Tromso
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.42NOKΒ 22.45
$1.70MX$29.43
42.35%
White Bread(500g)
$3.17NOKΒ 29.42
$2.72MX$47.02
16.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.28NOKΒ 30.46
$1.91MX$33.07
71.73%
Eggs
$4.92NOKΒ 45.72
$2.54MX$43.86
93.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.34NOKΒ 105
$10.03MX$174
13.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.48NOKΒ 144
$8.09MX$140
91.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$37.09NOKΒ 345
$11.62MX$201
219.19%
Apples(1kg)
$3.92NOKΒ 36.42
$2.97MX$51.3
31.99%
Banana(1kg)
$2.88NOKΒ 26.78
$1.81MX$31.24
59.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.75NOKΒ 34.82
$2.01MX$34.82
86.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.12NOKΒ 47.54
$2.03MX$35.20
152.22%
Potato(1kg)
$3.08NOKΒ 28.65
$2.12MX$36.75
45.28%
Onion(1kg)
$3.63NOKΒ 33.72
$2.27MX$39.25
59.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.69NOKΒ 24.98
$1.40MX$24.22
92.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.70NOKΒ 15.80
$1.13MX$19.55
50.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.05NOKΒ 140
$4.27MX$73.9
252.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.06NOKΒ 177
$15.56MX$269
22.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.64NOKΒ 33.78
$1.76MX$30.39
106.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.54NOKΒ 42.14
$3.60MX$62.2
26.11%
π Getting Around
Tromso
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.79NOKΒ 44.49
$0.38MX$6.62
1160.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$59.6NOKΒ 553
$19.18MX$332
210.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$12.88NOKΒ 120
$1.38MX$23.79
833.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.13NOKΒ 10.46
$0.28MX$4.78
303.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$52.1NOKΒ 484
$5.45MX$94.2
855.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.11NOKΒ 19.63
$1.30MX$22.55
62.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6KNOKΒ 302.8K
$18.7KMX$323.2K
74.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KNOKΒ 332.2K
$23.1KMX$400.1K
54.62%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tromso
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$245NOKΒ 2,279
$40.86MX$707
500.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.71NOKΒ 453
$26.81MX$464
81.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$77.2NOKΒ 717
$29.96MX$518
157.68%
π Sport & Entertainment
Tromso
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.87NOKΒ 445
$52.0MX$900
-7.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.54NOKΒ 367
$26.84MX$464
47.32%
Cinema Ticket
$16.73NOKΒ 155
$6.30MX$109
165.56%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Tromso
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$336NOKΒ 3,118
$436MX$7,544
-23.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,362NOKΒ 68.4K
$10.4KMX$180.2K
-29.32%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Tromso
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.7NOKΒ 815
$56.7MX$980
54.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.00NOKΒ 307
$44.38MX$768
-25.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$131NOKΒ 1,215
$103MX$1,780
27.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135NOKΒ 1,258
$106MX$1,825
28.36%
π Accommodation & Living
Tromso
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,348NOKΒ 12.5K
$1,022MX$17.7K
31.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268NOKΒ 11.8K
$631MX$10.9K
101.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,614NOKΒ 24.3K
$2,136MX$36.9K
22.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,853NOKΒ 17.2K
$1,243MX$21.5K
49.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,264NOKΒ 86.1K
$3,903MX$67.5K
137.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,545NOKΒ 51.5K
$2,064MX$35.7K
168.60%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Tromso
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,243NOKΒ 39.4K
$1,115MX$19.3K
280.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.27
11.34
-62.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tromso: June 1, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,348 in Tromso and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Tromso pays 281% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $121 in Tromso vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $502 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
Tromso vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tromso and Mexico City?
Tromso and Mexico City differ by about 100% in total monthly costs ($2,929 vs $1,467 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Tromso or Mexico City?
Tromso pays 281% 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 Tromso and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,348 in Tromso versus $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Tromso and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 211% less than in Tromso. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tromso and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $336 in Tromso versus $436 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 $1,467 in Mexico City versus $2,929 in Tromso, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Tromso. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tromso and Mexico City?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Tromso or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tromso 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: Tromso or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet β expenses run 100% less than in Tromso. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.