😐A single person spends $2,270 per month in Bodo vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,585 per month in Bodo vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,901 per month in Bodo vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Bodo costs about 75% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Bodo sits 69% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bodo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.22NOK 179
$11.73MX$203
63.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$103NOK 954
$41.62MX$721
146.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.74NOK 147
$10.64MX$184
47.93%
Cappuccino
$5.92NOK 55.1
$3.52MX$61.0
68.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60NOK 33.48
$1.51MX$26.17
138.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07NOK 28.59
$0.97MX$16.87
216.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.28NOK 105
$2.95MX$51.1
282.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.46NOK 97.4
$4.45MX$77.2
135.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bodo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.32NOK 21.63
$1.38MX$23.97
68.12%
White Bread(500g)
$2.99NOK 27.81
$1.89MX$32.78
58.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.22NOK 29.93
$1.64MX$28.37
96.34%
Eggs
$4.68NOK 43.60
$2.51MX$43.42
86.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.10NOK 113
$8.34MX$145
45.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.79NOK 156
$8.34MX$145
101.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.45NOK 153
$10.73MX$186
53.31%
Apples(1kg)
$3.18NOK 29.56
$2.60MX$45.12
22.31%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35NOK 21.89
$1.46MX$25.25
60.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.02NOK 28.07
$1.90MX$32.94
58.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.63NOK 52.4
$2.08MX$35.98
170.67%
Potato(1kg)
$2.55NOK 23.70
$1.78MX$30.77
43.26%
Onion(1kg)
$2.55NOK 23.75
$2.19MX$37.87
16.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.56NOK 33.18
$1.04MX$18.02
242.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.12NOK 19.70
$1.08MX$18.66
96.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.09NOK 131
$4.08MX$70.7
245.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.76NOK 184
$10.32MX$179
91.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01NOK 27.98
$1.71MX$29.67
76.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.93NOK 36.61
$2.58MX$44.63
52.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Bodo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.31NOK 40.10
$0.51MX$8.83
745.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$52.7NOK 490
$26.46MX$459
99.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.95NOK 83.4
$3.26MX$56.5
174.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.40NOK 13.07
$2.49MX$43.17
-43.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$46.30NOK 431
$3.25MX$56.3
1324.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.14NOK 19.88
$1.31MX$22.65
63.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8KNOK 333.2K
$30.3KMX$524.7K
18.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.8KNOK 352.0K
$23.4KMX$406.0K
61.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bodo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$144NOK 1,340
$82.9MX$1,436
73.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.85NOK 231
$22.22MX$385
11.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.4NOK 591
$29.34MX$508
116.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bodo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.72NOK 463
$51.6MX$895
-3.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.00NOK 326
$18.32MX$317
91.05%
Cinema Ticket
$12.99NOK 121
$5.07MX$87.8
156.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bodo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$397NOK 3,691
$201MX$3,480
97.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.2KNOK 94.7K
$5,212MX$90.3K
95.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bodo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.6NOK 648
$36.92MX$640
88.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.1NOK 485
$39.79MX$689
30.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$109NOK 1,016
$78.5MX$1,360
39.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$149NOK 1,387
$87.1MX$1,509
71.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bodo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$959NOK 8,931
$973MX$16.9K
-1.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$878NOK 8,170
$468MX$8,105
87.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,104NOK 19.6K
$1,641MX$28.4K
28.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,645NOK 15.3K
$1,221MX$21.2K
34.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,078NOK 56.6K
$3,946MX$68.4K
54.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,914NOK 45.7K
$6,498MX$112.6K
-24.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bodo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,685NOK 34.3K
$664MX$11.5K
455.06%
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: June 2, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $959 in Bodo versus $973 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 455% 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 $103 in Bodo versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $439 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 75% 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,405 per month in Bodo and $1,945 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 $2,270 in Bodo and $1,297 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 99% 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 Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Bodo at $2,270. 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 $1,297 versus $2,270 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 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.