😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,207 in Tromso versus $1,677 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,683 in Tromso versus $2,608 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,158 in Tromso versus $3,540 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Tromso is roughly 91% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Tromso133% above, Mexico City22% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tromso
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$35.31NOK 328
$12.14MX$206
190.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$109NOK 1,007
$53.9MX$914
101.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.16NOK 150
$11.09MX$188
45.72%
Cappuccino
$6.89NOK 64.0
$4.10MX$69.5
68.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.87NOK 45.15
$1.68MX$28.53
189.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74NOK 34.69
$1.39MX$23.55
169.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$12.76NOK 118
$3.33MX$56.5
283.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$14.21NOK 132
$5.88MX$99.7
141.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tromso
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.49NOK 23.11
$1.85MX$31.41
34.59%
White Bread(500g)
$3.50NOK 32.44
$3.17MX$53.8
10.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.14NOK 38.40
$2.07MX$35.13
100.00%
Eggs
$5.27NOK 48.93
$2.93MX$49.67
79.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.44NOK 115
$12.59MX$214
-1.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.21NOK 141
$10.11MX$172
50.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$42.53NOK 395
$16.09MX$273
164.33%
Apples(1kg)
$4.22NOK 39.14
$3.39MX$57.5
24.48%
Banana(1kg)
$3.07NOK 28.50
$2.08MX$35.26
47.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.35NOK 49.61
$2.12MX$35.97
152.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.40NOK 59.4
$2.41MX$40.95
165.56%
Potato(1kg)
$3.54NOK 32.82
$2.13MX$36.11
66.20%
Onion(1kg)
$5.08NOK 47.11
$2.01MX$34.02
152.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.12NOK 28.93
$1.55MX$26.21
101.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.18NOK 20.20
$1.36MX$23.15
60.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$16.38NOK 152
$5.77MX$97.8
183.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.47NOK 153
$17.74MX$301
-7.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.06NOK 37.62
$2.07MX$35.11
96.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.77NOK 44.28
$4.61MX$78.3
3.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Tromso
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$5.06NOK 46.94
$0.37MX$6.21
1267.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$69.2NOK 642
$21.18MX$359
226.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$16.36NOK 152
$2.05MX$34.84
698.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13NOK 19.76
$0.58MX$9.79
267.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$57.6NOK 534
$6.07MX$103
848.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.27NOK 21.02
$1.55MX$26.34
46.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.6KNOK 460.4K
$22.9KMX$388.1K
116.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.6KNOK 422.8K
$27.2KMX$462.0K
67.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tromso
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$266NOK 2,471
$67.4MX$1,144
295.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.3NOK 476
$30.62MX$520
67.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$86.2NOK 799
$37.24MX$632
131.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tromso
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9NOK 481
$61.5MX$1,043
-15.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$47.90NOK 444
$27.12MX$460
76.62%
Cinema Ticket
$17.98NOK 167
$7.11MX$121
152.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tromso
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$329NOK 3,048
$456MX$7,739
-27.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,733NOK 71.7K
$13.7KMX$232.3K
-43.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tromso
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.1NOK 632
$74.2MX$1,259
-8.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.40NOK 328
$57.0MX$967
-37.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$149NOK 1,385
$115MX$1,958
29.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$165NOK 1,532
$122MX$2,061
35.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tromso
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,558NOK 14.5K
$1,148MX$19.5K
35.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,296NOK 12.0K
$709MX$12.0K
82.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,781NOK 25.8K
$2,577MX$43.7K
7.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039NOK 18.9K
$1,295MX$22.0K
57.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,137NOK 66.2K
$4,005MX$67.9K
78.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,526NOK 51.3K
$2,130MX$36.1K
159.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tromso
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,292NOK 39.8K
$1,082MX$18.4K
296.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.01
11.3
-55.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tromso: September 5, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,558 in Tromso and $1,148 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tromso pays 297% 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: $109 in Tromso vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $554 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
Tromso vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tromso and in Mexico City?
Tromso and Mexico City differ by about 91% in total monthly costs ($3,207 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: Tromso or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 297% higher in Tromso, 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 in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,558 in Tromso 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 Tromso and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 227% 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 $329 in Tromso 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 $3,207 in Tromso, a $3,000 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 – 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 – expenses run 91% less than in Tromso. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.