Cost of Living Comparison Between Elverum and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Elverum and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,814 per month in Elverum vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,190 per month in Elverum vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,566 per month in Elverum vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Elverum costs about 116% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Elverum sits 104% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Elverum
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.91 NOK 194
$11.96 MX$203
74.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$110 NOK 1,020
$47.38 MX$804
132.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.87 NOK 147
$11.75 MX$199
35.06%
Cappuccino
$5.73 NOK 53.2
$4.12 MX$70.0
39.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.67 NOK 52.6
$1.40 MX$23.74
305.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36 NOK 40.41
$0.91 MX$15.48
379.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$13.42 NOK 124
$3.21 MX$54.4
318.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$13.25 NOK 123
$7.07 MX$120
87.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Elverum
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.50 NOK 23.23
$1.68 MX$28.44
48.81%
White Bread (500g)
$3.48 NOK 32.24
$2.15 MX$36.48
61.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.84 NOK 35.58
$1.77 MX$30.10
116.95%
Eggs
$5.02 NOK 46.60
$2.82 MX$47.76
78.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.17 NOK 122
$9.20 MX$156
43.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.51 NOK 153
$9.23 MX$157
78.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$32.70 NOK 303
$12.64 MX$214
158.70%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 NOK 36.82
$2.95 MX$50.1
34.58%
Banana (1kg)
$3.00 NOK 27.81
$1.58 MX$26.79
89.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.93 NOK 36.42
$2.22 MX$37.70
77.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.85 NOK 54.2
$2.36 MX$40.09
147.88%
Potato (1kg)
$2.84 NOK 26.37
$1.99 MX$33.81
42.71%
Onion (1kg)
$3.17 NOK 29.37
$1.98 MX$33.58
60.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.86 NOK 26.49
$1.24 MX$21.04
130.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.32 NOK 21.53
$1.21 MX$20.55
91.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$17.63 NOK 164
$4.60 MX$78.1
283.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.46 NOK 171
$10.52 MX$178
75.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.73 NOK 34.56
$1.69 MX$28.70
120.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.67 NOK 43.30
$2.77 MX$47.06
68.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Elverum
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.73 NOK 43.88
$0.60 MX$10.22
688.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$86.9 NOK 806
$29.70 MX$504
192.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$9.27 NOK 86.0
$5.24 MX$88.8
76.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.67 NOK 15.49
$3.65 MX$61.9
-54.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$59.9 NOK 555
$5.78 MX$98.1
935.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.29 NOK 21.28
$1.54 MX$26.09
48.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.8K NOK 434.4K
$22.8K MX$386.8K
105.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$46.1K NOK 428.1K
$25.8K MX$437.9K
78.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Elverum
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$273 NOK 2,532
$90.7 MX$1,538
201.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.44 NOK 338
$25.19 MX$427
44.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$85.2 NOK 790
$31.75 MX$539
168.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Elverum
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.0 NOK 464
$68.8 MX$1,167
-27.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.71 NOK 350
$29.37 MX$498
28.40%
Cinema Ticket
$21.19 NOK 197
$4.86 MX$82.5
336.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Elverum
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$302 NOK 2,798
$226 MX$3,828
33.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,497 NOK 41.7K
$4,194 MX$71.1K
7.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Elverum
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$111 NOK 1,032
$47.38 MX$804
134.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.3 NOK 476
$43.45 MX$737
18.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$123 NOK 1,144
$80.2 MX$1,361
53.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$161 NOK 1,493
$91.4 MX$1,550
76.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Elverum
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,242 NOK 11.5K
$1,086 MX$18.4K
14.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,020 NOK 9,465
$409 MX$6,933
149.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,011 NOK 18.7K
$1,972 MX$33.5K
1.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,721 NOK 16.0K
$1,281 MX$21.7K
34.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,340 NOK 58.8K
$4,046 MX$68.6K
56.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,262 NOK 39.5K
$6,704 MX$113.7K
-36.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Elverum
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,351 NOK 40.4K
$773 MX$13.1K
462.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.32
11.45
-53.54%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Elverum: September 5, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,242 in Elverum versus $1,086 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 463% 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 $110 in Elverum versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $517 vs $278 – 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 116%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $4,221 per month in Elverum and $1,958 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 $302 per month in Elverum and $226 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 86% 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 living in Elverum or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,305, than in Elverum at $2,814. 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.

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