😐A single person spends $2,258 per month in Elverum vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,476 per month in Elverum vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,693 per month in Elverum vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Elverum costs about 74% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Elverum 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
Elverum
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.46NOK 209
$11.73MX$203
91.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102NOK 952
$41.62MX$720
146.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.48NOK 107
$10.64MX$184
7.89%
Cappuccino
$4.67NOK 43.39
$3.52MX$60.9
32.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55NOK 33.02
$1.51MX$26.12
135.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99NOK 27.78
$0.97MX$16.84
208.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.79NOK 100
$2.95MX$51.0
265.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.03NOK 74.6
$4.45MX$77.0
80.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Elverum
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08NOK 10.06
$1.38MX$23.93
-21.74%
White Bread(500g)
$3.57NOK 33.17
$1.89MX$32.72
88.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.92NOK 36.39
$1.64MX$28.32
139.02%
Eggs
$1.80NOK 16.76
$2.51MX$43.34
-28.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.27NOK 67.5
$8.34MX$144
-12.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.95NOK 111
$8.34MX$144
43.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$25.08NOK 233
$10.73MX$186
133.74%
Apples(1kg)
$1.03NOK 9.55
$2.60MX$45.04
-60.38%
Banana(1kg)
$2.89NOK 26.82
$1.46MX$25.20
97.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.56NOK 14.45
$1.90MX$32.87
-17.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.49NOK 13.88
$2.08MX$35.91
-28.37%
Potato(1kg)
$1.03NOK 9.60
$1.78MX$30.71
-42.13%
Onion(1kg)
$0.99NOK 9.21
$2.19MX$37.80
-54.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.49NOK 23.15
$1.04MX$17.99
139.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.53NOK 23.53
$1.08MX$18.62
134.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.48NOK 135
$4.08MX$70.6
254.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.71NOK 174
$10.32MX$178
81.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.80NOK 35.34
$1.71MX$29.61
122.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62NOK 42.88
$2.58MX$44.54
79.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Elverum
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.35NOK 40.45
$0.51MX$8.81
752.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.7NOK 685
$26.46MX$458
178.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$15.15NOK 141
$3.26MX$56.4
364.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.15NOK 20.01
$2.49MX$43.09
-13.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$87.0NOK 808
$3.25MX$56.2
2577.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.19NOK 20.35
$1.31MX$22.61
67.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4KNOK 301.1K
$30.3KMX$523.7K
7.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5KNOK 329.4K
$23.4KMX$405.3K
51.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Elverum
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$101NOK 935
$82.9MX$1,433
21.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.61NOK 387
$22.22MX$384
87.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.7NOK 601
$29.34MX$507
120.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Elverum
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.85NOK 463
$51.6MX$893
-3.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.05NOK 326
$18.32MX$317
91.32%
Cinema Ticket
$11.97NOK 111
$5.07MX$87.6
136.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Elverum
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$319NOK 2,961
$201MX$3,473
58.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,623NOK 80.1K
$5,212MX$90.1K
65.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Elverum
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$111NOK 1,031
$36.92MX$639
200.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.29NOK 458
$39.79MX$688
23.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$126NOK 1,169
$78.5MX$1,357
60.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129NOK 1,202
$87.1MX$1,506
48.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Elverum
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,203NOK 11.2K
$973MX$16.8K
23.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$910NOK 8,453
$468MX$8,090
94.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,802NOK 16.7K
$1,641MX$28.4K
9.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,513NOK 14.1K
$1,221MX$21.1K
23.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,127NOK 56.9K
$3,946MX$68.3K
55.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,578NOK 42.5K
$6,498MX$112.4K
-29.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Elverum
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,399NOK 40.9K
$664MX$11.5K
562.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.32
11.42
-62.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Elverum: June 2, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,203 in Elverum 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 563% higher in Elverum, 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 $102 in Elverum versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $373 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
Elverum vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Elverum?
Yes – Elverum is pricier by about 74%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,387 per month in Elverum and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $319 per month in Elverum and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Elverum and Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 50% more in Elverum, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Elverum 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 Elverum at $2,258. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Elverum it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Elverum or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Elverum or 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Elverum makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.