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

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$22.97 DKK 147
$11.94 MX$209
92.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$118 DKK 750
$42.75 MX$748
175.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.15 DKK 90.3
$10.59 MX$185
33.62%
Cappuccino
$6.95 DKK 44.35
$3.62 MX$63.4
91.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30 DKK 27.46
$1.47 MX$25.69
192.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 DKK 20.30
$0.94 MX$16.51
238.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.53 DKK 60.8
$3.09 MX$54.1
208.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.70 DKK 49.14
$4.46 MX$78.0
72.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.08 DKK 13.24
$1.43 MX$24.94
45.45%
White Bread (500g)
$4.11 DKK 26.23
$1.88 MX$32.97
118.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.60 DKK 16.59
$1.63 MX$28.50
59.51%
Eggs
$5.80 DKK 37.01
$2.64 MX$46.26
119.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.87 DKK 94.9
$8.21 MX$144
81.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.14 DKK 71.1
$8.29 MX$145
34.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.08 DKK 103
$11.10 MX$194
44.86%
Apples (1kg)
$3.15 DKK 20.07
$2.65 MX$46.40
18.87%
Banana (1kg)
$3.34 DKK 21.29
$1.50 MX$26.26
122.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.53 DKK 22.53
$1.99 MX$34.79
77.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.71 DKK 36.42
$2.08 MX$36.33
174.52%
Potato (1kg)
$2.27 DKK 14.45
$1.79 MX$31.29
26.82%
Onion (1kg)
$1.88 DKK 12.01
$2.18 MX$38.09
-13.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.37 DKK 15.12
$1.08 MX$18.84
119.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 DKK 10.62
$1.04 MX$18.15
59.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.19 DKK 65.0
$3.97 MX$69.5
156.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.37 DKK 66.1
$10.20 MX$179
1.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.94 DKK 12.35
$1.73 MX$30.22
12.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 DKK 13.12
$2.50 MX$43.71
-17.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.66 DKK 23.34
$0.52 MX$9.07
603.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$91.7 DKK 585
$26.97 MX$472
240.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.71 DKK 49.17
$3.14 MX$55.0
145.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.75 DKK 11.16
$2.40 MX$42.04
-27.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$110 DKK 702
$3.09 MX$54.0
3459.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.19 DKK 13.99
$1.27 MX$22.28
72.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.1K DKK 307.0K
$30.9K MX$540.4K
55.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$48.4K DKK 308.6K
$23.3K MX$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)
$198 DKK 1,263
$82.0 MX$1,435
141.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.07 DKK 122
$22.45 MX$393
-15.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.62 DKK 266
$29.66 MX$519
40.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.79 DKK 260
$51.9 MX$908
-21.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.51 DKK 188
$18.67 MX$327
58.06%
Cinema Ticket
$18.39 DKK 117
$4.97 MX$87.0
270.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$588 DKK 3,754
$198 MX$3,462
197.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,796 DKK 37.0K
$5,273 MX$92.3K
9.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$128 DKK 816
$36.34 MX$636
251.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.01 DKK 281
$40.05 MX$701
9.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 DKK 764
$79.9 MX$1,398
49.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$200 DKK 1,273
$88.9 MX$1,555
124.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,941 DKK 12.4K
$963 MX$16.9K
101.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$699 DKK 4,462
$465 MX$8,133
50.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,551 DKK 16.3K
$1,596 MX$27.9K
59.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,137 DKK 13.6K
$1,209 MX$21.2K
76.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,324 DKK 53.1K
$3,942 MX$69.0K
111.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,469 DKK 34.9K
$6,448 MX$112.8K
-15.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,083 DKK 32.4K
$720 MX$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

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