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

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