😐A single person spends $2,307 per month in Bodo vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,622 per month in Bodo vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,936 per month in Bodo vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Bodo costs about 84% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Bodo sits 73% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bodo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.10NOK 184
$11.99MX$210
59.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101NOK 971
$41.78MX$731
141.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.87NOK 153
$10.75MX$188
47.63%
Cappuccino
$5.80NOK 55.9
$3.50MX$61.1
65.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62NOK 34.82
$1.45MX$25.33
149.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96NOK 28.51
$0.88MX$15.47
236.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.20NOK 108
$2.95MX$51.6
279.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.61NOK 102
$4.51MX$78.9
135.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bodo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.22NOK 21.43
$1.43MX$25.04
55.24%
White Bread(500g)
$2.83NOK 27.27
$1.84MX$32.13
53.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.22NOK 31.03
$1.57MX$27.42
105.10%
Eggs
$4.67NOK 44.93
$2.51MX$43.92
86.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.24NOK 118
$8.28MX$145
47.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.55NOK 159
$8.43MX$147
96.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.96NOK 154
$10.68MX$187
49.44%
Apples(1kg)
$3.07NOK 29.57
$2.61MX$45.62
17.62%
Banana(1kg)
$2.31NOK 22.28
$1.44MX$25.15
60.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.01NOK 29.02
$1.96MX$34.31
53.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.61NOK 54.1
$2.09MX$36.62
168.42%
Potato(1kg)
$2.55NOK 24.55
$1.85MX$32.37
37.84%
Onion(1kg)
$2.58NOK 24.90
$2.17MX$37.90
18.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.66NOK 35.21
$1.03MX$18.04
255.34%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.12NOK 20.45
$1.07MX$18.78
98.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.36NOK 138
$4.10MX$71.7
250.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.32NOK 186
$10.17MX$178
89.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.09NOK 29.72
$1.68MX$29.29
83.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.77NOK 36.35
$2.53MX$44.17
49.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Bodo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.38NOK 42.15
$0.51MX$8.90
758.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.4NOK 515
$26.04MX$455
105.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.23NOK 88.9
$3.23MX$56.5
185.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.41NOK 13.55
$2.41MX$42.06
-41.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$46.43NOK 447
$3.23MX$56.5
1337.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.13NOK 20.54
$1.32MX$23.10
61.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7KNOK 344.0K
$29.7KMX$519.2K
20.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.8KNOK 363.6K
$23.7KMX$413.7K
59.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bodo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$143NOK 1,378
$82.0MX$1,434
74.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.74NOK 238
$22.95MX$401
7.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.7NOK 604
$30.11MX$527
108.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bodo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.17NOK 464
$52.0MX$909
-7.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.10NOK 338
$18.53MX$324
89.42%
Cinema Ticket
$13.41NOK 129
$4.98MX$87.0
169.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bodo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$389NOK 3,744
$197MX$3,452
96.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.2KNOK 97.8K
$5,336MX$93.3K
90.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bodo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.6NOK 690
$35.60MX$622
101.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.3NOK 504
$40.33MX$705
29.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107NOK 1,028
$78.8MX$1,377
35.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153NOK 1,478
$88.9MX$1,555
72.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bodo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$977NOK 9,409
$947MX$16.6K
3.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$909NOK 8,757
$474MX$8,288
91.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,103NOK 20.3K
$1,644MX$28.7K
27.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,643NOK 15.8K
$1,211MX$21.2K
35.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,187NOK 59.6K
$4,056MX$70.9K
52.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,470MX$113.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bodo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,413NOK 32.9K
$654MX$11.4K
421.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.8
11.42
-66.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bodo: July 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $977 in Bodo versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 422% higher in Bodo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Bodo versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $433 vs $249 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Bodo vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bodo or Playa del Carmen?
Bodo costs about 84% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bodo and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,461 per month in Bodo and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bodo or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Bodo compared to Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,307 in Bodo and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Bodo compared to Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 105% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Bodo or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Bodo at $2,307. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bodo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bodo or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,256 versus $2,307 in Bodo. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Bodo compared to Playa del Carmen?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Bodo or to Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bodo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.