😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,218 in Frederiksberg versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,957 in Frederiksberg versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,695 in Frederiksberg versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Frederiksberg is roughly 75% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Frederiksberg is 65% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.45DKK 151
$11.87MX$204
97.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$117DKK 754
$42.90MX$736
172.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.81DKK 88.9
$10.65MX$183
29.67%
Cappuccino
$6.60DKK 42.48
$3.45MX$59.2
91.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45DKK 28.68
$1.50MX$25.81
196.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08DKK 19.86
$0.95MX$16.28
224.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.23DKK 59.5
$3.03MX$51.9
204.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.86DKK 50.7
$4.61MX$79.1
70.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.99DKK 12.84
$1.38MX$23.61
44.20%
White Bread(500g)
$3.99DKK 25.68
$1.85MX$31.70
115.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.51DKK 16.17
$1.61MX$27.65
55.90%
Eggs
$5.77DKK 37.17
$2.59MX$44.51
122.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.02DKK 96.7
$8.26MX$142
81.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.14DKK 71.7
$8.37MX$144
33.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.84DKK 102
$10.66MX$183
48.59%
Apples(1kg)
$3.19DKK 20.56
$2.63MX$45.12
21.29%
Banana(1kg)
$3.33DKK 21.42
$1.49MX$25.53
123.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.64DKK 23.41
$1.92MX$32.94
89.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.46DKK 35.19
$2.09MX$35.81
161.24%
Potato(1kg)
$2.28DKK 14.70
$1.86MX$31.88
22.58%
Onion(1kg)
$1.88DKK 12.10
$2.26MX$38.81
-16.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.35DKK 15.11
$1.06MX$18.23
121.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.68DKK 10.85
$1.09MX$18.67
54.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.23DKK 65.9
$4.15MX$71.2
146.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.51DKK 67.7
$10.39MX$178
1.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97DKK 12.72
$1.72MX$29.59
14.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06DKK 13.25
$2.61MX$44.85
-21.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.75DKK 24.14
$0.54MX$9.30
594.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$94.9DKK 611
$26.94MX$462
252.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.71DKK 49.63
$3.13MX$53.7
146.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.66DKK 10.70
$2.51MX$43.09
-33.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$107DKK 689
$3.15MX$54.1
3293.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.30DKK 14.81
$1.27MX$21.88
81.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.3KDKK 311.1K
$30.4KMX$521.3K
59.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$48.9KDKK 314.8K
$23.6KMX$404.5K
107.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$198DKK 1,277
$83.0MX$1,425
138.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.21DKK 124
$22.71MX$390
-15.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.80DKK 269
$29.46MX$506
41.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.70DKK 262
$51.0MX$875
-20.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.72DKK 191
$18.33MX$315
62.14%
Cinema Ticket
$18.26DKK 118
$4.93MX$84.5
270.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$598DKK 3,852
$197MX$3,386
203.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,885DKK 37.9K
$5,280MX$90.6K
11.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$129DKK 834
$36.90MX$633
250.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.72DKK 282
$39.89MX$685
9.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124DKK 796
$80.0MX$1,373
54.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$193DKK 1,243
$89.5MX$1,536
115.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,930DKK 12.4K
$956MX$16.4K
101.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$711DKK 4,580
$477MX$8,189
49.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,556DKK 16.5K
$1,646MX$28.3K
55.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,181DKK 14.0K
$1,225MX$21.0K
78.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,207DKK 52.9K
$3,918MX$67.2K
109.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,394DKK 34.7K
$6,459MX$110.9K
-16.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,123DKK 39.4K
$667MX$11.4K
818.01%
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: June 9, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,930 in Frederiksberg and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Frederiksberg pays 818% 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: $117 in Frederiksberg vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $394 vs $250 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 75% in total monthly costs ($2,218 vs $1,271 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 818% 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: $1,930 in Frederiksberg versus $956 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 $117 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 $2,218 per month in Frederiksberg versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen – a 75% 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 $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,218 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 75% 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