😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,142 in Frederiksberg versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,947 in Frederiksberg versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,752 in Frederiksberg versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Frederiksberg is roughly 66% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Frederiksberg is 60% above, Playa del Carmen is 4% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.97DKK 147
$11.94MX$209
92.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$118DKK 750
$42.75MX$748
175.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.15DKK 90.3
$10.59MX$185
33.62%
Cappuccino
$6.95DKK 44.35
$3.62MX$63.4
91.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30DKK 27.46
$1.47MX$25.69
192.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18DKK 20.30
$0.94MX$16.51
238.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.53DKK 60.8
$3.09MX$54.1
208.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.70DKK 49.14
$4.46MX$78.0
72.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.08DKK 13.24
$1.43MX$24.94
45.45%
White Bread(500g)
$4.11DKK 26.23
$1.88MX$32.97
118.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.60DKK 16.59
$1.63MX$28.50
59.51%
Eggs
$5.80DKK 37.01
$2.64MX$46.26
119.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.87DKK 94.9
$8.21MX$144
81.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.14DKK 71.1
$8.29MX$145
34.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.08DKK 103
$11.10MX$194
44.86%
Apples(1kg)
$3.15DKK 20.07
$2.65MX$46.40
18.87%
Banana(1kg)
$3.34DKK 21.29
$1.50MX$26.26
122.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.53DKK 22.53
$1.99MX$34.79
77.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.71DKK 36.42
$2.08MX$36.33
174.52%
Potato(1kg)
$2.27DKK 14.45
$1.79MX$31.29
26.82%
Onion(1kg)
$1.88DKK 12.01
$2.18MX$38.09
-13.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.37DKK 15.12
$1.08MX$18.84
119.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66DKK 10.62
$1.04MX$18.15
59.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.19DKK 65.0
$3.97MX$69.5
156.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37DKK 66.1
$10.20MX$179
1.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.94DKK 12.35
$1.73MX$30.22
12.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06DKK 13.12
$2.50MX$43.71
-17.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.66DKK 23.34
$0.52MX$9.07
603.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$91.7DKK 585
$26.97MX$472
240.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.71DKK 49.17
$3.14MX$55.0
145.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.75DKK 11.16
$2.40MX$42.04
-27.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$110DKK 702
$3.09MX$54.0
3459.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.19DKK 13.99
$1.27MX$22.28
72.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.1KDKK 307.0K
$30.9KMX$540.4K
55.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$48.4KDKK 308.6K
$23.3KMX$408.0K
107.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$198DKK 1,263
$82.0MX$1,435
141.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.07DKK 122
$22.45MX$393
-15.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.62DKK 266
$29.66MX$519
40.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.79DKK 260
$51.9MX$908
-21.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.51DKK 188
$18.67MX$327
58.06%
Cinema Ticket
$18.39DKK 117
$4.97MX$87.0
270.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$588DKK 3,754
$198MX$3,462
197.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,796DKK 37.0K
$5,273MX$92.3K
9.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$128DKK 816
$36.34MX$636
251.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.01DKK 281
$40.05MX$701
9.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120DKK 764
$79.9MX$1,398
49.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$200DKK 1,273
$88.9MX$1,555
124.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,941DKK 12.4K
$963MX$16.9K
101.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$699DKK 4,462
$465MX$8,133
50.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,551DKK 16.3K
$1,596MX$27.9K
59.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,137DKK 13.6K
$1,209MX$21.2K
76.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,324DKK 53.1K
$3,942MX$69.0K
111.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,469DKK 34.9K
$6,448MX$112.8K
-15.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,083DKK 32.4K
$720MX$12.6K
605.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.19
11.42
-63.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Frederiksberg: April 27, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,941 in Frederiksberg and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Frederiksberg pays 606% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $118 in Frederiksberg vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $397 vs $251 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
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
Frederiksberg vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Frederiksberg and Playa del Carmen?
Frederiksberg and Playa del Carmen differ by about 66% in total monthly costs ($2,142 vs $1,287 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Frederiksberg or Playa del Carmen?
Frederiksberg pays 606% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Frederiksberg and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,941 in Frederiksberg versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $118 in Frederiksberg. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Frederiksberg or Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,142 per month in Frederiksberg versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – a 66% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,142 in Frederiksberg, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Frederiksberg. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Frederiksberg and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Frederiksberg or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Frederiksberg and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Frederiksberg or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 66% less than in Frederiksberg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Frederiksberg vs other spots: cost of living compared