😐A single person spends $2,212 per month in Drammen vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,324 per month in Drammen vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,437 per month in Drammen vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Drammen costs about 76% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Drammen sits 66% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Drammen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.63NOK 199
$11.99MX$210
72.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.8NOK 720
$41.78MX$731
78.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.18NOK 127
$10.75MX$188
22.60%
Cappuccino
$4.73NOK 45.58
$3.50MX$61.1
35.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45NOK 23.61
$1.45MX$25.33
68.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68NOK 25.77
$0.88MX$15.47
204.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.14NOK 78.4
$2.95MX$51.6
175.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.23NOK 60.0
$4.51MX$78.9
38.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Drammen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.11NOK 20.29
$1.43MX$25.04
47.55%
White Bread(500g)
$3.13NOK 30.13
$1.84MX$32.13
70.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.32NOK 31.96
$1.57MX$27.42
111.46%
Eggs
$4.19NOK 40.36
$2.51MX$43.92
66.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.24NOK 108
$8.28MX$145
35.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.19NOK 127
$8.43MX$147
56.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.36NOK 167
$10.68MX$187
62.55%
Apples(1kg)
$1.95NOK 18.79
$2.61MX$45.62
-25.29%
Banana(1kg)
$2.26NOK 21.73
$1.44MX$25.15
56.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.29NOK 31.67
$1.96MX$34.31
67.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.79NOK 36.47
$2.09MX$36.62
81.34%
Potato(1kg)
$2.30NOK 22.20
$1.85MX$32.37
24.32%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34NOK 12.89
$2.17MX$37.90
-38.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.79NOK 17.21
$1.03MX$18.04
73.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.83NOK 17.67
$1.07MX$18.78
71.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.30NOK 138
$4.10MX$71.7
248.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.44NOK 120
$10.17MX$178
22.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.93NOK 28.26
$1.68MX$29.29
74.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08NOK 39.32
$2.53MX$44.17
61.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Drammen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.83NOK 27.23
$0.51MX$8.90
454.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$76.5NOK 736
$26.04MX$455
193.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.25NOK 98.7
$3.23MX$56.5
217.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.22NOK 11.71
$2.41MX$42.06
-49.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$99.6NOK 959
$3.23MX$56.5
2982.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.16NOK 20.81
$1.32MX$23.10
63.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.1KNOK 395.6K
$29.7KMX$519.2K
38.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1KNOK 376.7K
$23.7KMX$413.7K
65.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Drammen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$218NOK 2,101
$82.0MX$1,434
165.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.27NOK 417
$22.95MX$401
88.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.61NOK 362
$30.11MX$527
24.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Drammen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$84.5NOK 814
$52.0MX$909
62.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.41NOK 341
$18.53MX$324
91.10%
Cinema Ticket
$15.17NOK 146
$4.98MX$87.0
204.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Drammen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$302NOK 2,906
$197MX$3,452
52.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.1KNOK 97.5K
$5,336MX$93.3K
89.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Drammen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.2NOK 936
$35.60MX$622
173.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.93NOK 240
$40.33MX$705
-38.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101NOK 970
$78.8MX$1,377
27.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144NOK 1,390
$88.9MX$1,555
62.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Drammen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$942NOK 9,070
$947MX$16.6K
-0.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$769NOK 7,407
$474MX$8,288
62.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,460NOK 14.1K
$1,644MX$28.7K
-11.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,366NOK 13.2K
$1,211MX$21.2K
12.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$10.3KNOK 99.5K
$4,056MX$70.9K
154.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,145NOK 59.2K
$6,470MX$113.1K
-5.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Drammen
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,527NOK 34.0K
$654MX$11.4K
439.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.38
11.42
-61.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Drammen: July 11, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $942 in Drammen 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 439% higher in Drammen, 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 $75.0 in Drammen versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $376 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
Drammen vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Drammen and in Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,212 in Drammen, $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 76% apart. Drammen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Drammen compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,318 per month in Drammen and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Drammen and 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.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Drammen and Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $302 per month in Drammen and $197 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 51% more in Drammen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Drammen at $2,212. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Drammen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Drammen and Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,256 in Playa del Carmen to $2,212 in Drammen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Drammen or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Drammen and Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Drammen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.