😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,988 in Frederiksberg versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,322 in Frederiksberg versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,656 in Frederiksberg versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Frederiksberg is roughly 136% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Frederiksberg is 118% above, Playa del Carmen is 7% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.12DKK 144
$11.60MX$199
90.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$124DKK 806
$47.11MX$809
162.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.17DKK 92.3
$11.88MX$204
19.28%
Cappuccino
$7.50DKK 48.87
$3.98MX$68.2
88.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37DKK 28.44
$1.43MX$24.49
205.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49DKK 22.71
$0.82MX$14.16
325.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.20DKK 60.0
$3.19MX$54.7
188.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.69DKK 50.1
$6.79MX$117
13.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.13DKK 13.85
$1.68MX$28.76
26.79%
White Bread(500g)
$4.04DKK 26.29
$2.20MX$37.71
83.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.48DKK 16.16
$1.71MX$29.32
45.03%
Eggs
$5.48DKK 35.73
$2.74MX$47.05
100.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.68DKK 102
$9.58MX$164
63.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.87DKK 77.3
$9.01MX$155
31.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.72DKK 122
$12.81MX$220
46.14%
Apples(1kg)
$3.30DKK 21.48
$2.89MX$49.58
14.19%
Banana(1kg)
$3.64DKK 23.70
$1.50MX$25.70
142.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.87DKK 25.21
$2.15MX$36.87
80.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.50DKK 35.83
$2.26MX$38.79
143.36%
Potato(1kg)
$2.30DKK 14.96
$1.98MX$34.00
16.16%
Onion(1kg)
$2.08DKK 13.55
$1.99MX$34.15
4.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.20DKK 14.33
$1.23MX$21.18
78.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.48DKK 9.62
$1.20MX$20.54
23.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.78DKK 63.7
$4.55MX$78.1
114.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.59DKK 69.0
$10.37MX$178
2.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06DKK 13.43
$1.62MX$27.79
27.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40DKK 15.64
$2.88MX$49.44
-16.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.63DKK 23.67
$0.60MX$10.30
505.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$59.7DKK 389
$28.80MX$494
107.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.20DKK 40.36
$5.39MX$92.5
15.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.65DKK 10.75
$3.73MX$64.0
-55.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$63.2DKK 412
$5.77MX$99.0
995.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.57DKK 16.77
$1.54MX$26.37
66.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$52.8KDKK 343.7K
$22.5KMX$387.0K
134.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$53.9KDKK 351.4K
$26.1KMX$447.3K
106.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$190DKK 1,241
$91.4MX$1,569
108.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.75DKK 103
$25.20MX$433
-37.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.59DKK 251
$31.24MX$536
23.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$88.7DKK 578
$67.2MX$1,154
32.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.11MX$500
-
Cinema Ticket
$20.60DKK 134
$4.86MX$83.5
323.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$772DKK 5,029
$224MX$3,839
245.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,263DKK 40.8K
$4,229MX$72.6K
48.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$120DKK 779
$47.10MX$808
153.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.6DKK 330
$44.29MX$760
14.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$134DKK 871
$80.1MX$1,375
66.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$194DKK 1,264
$92.7MX$1,591
109.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,963DKK 12.8K
$1,063MX$18.2K
84.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,418DKK 9,240
$390MX$6,698
263.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,740DKK 17.9K
$2,149MX$36.9K
27.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,179DKK 14.2K
$1,272MX$21.8K
71.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,203DKK 53.4K
$4,001MX$68.7K
104.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,363DKK 34.9K
$6,502MX$111.6K
-17.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,978DKK 38.9K
$758MX$13.0K
688.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
11.45
-66.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Frederiksberg: September 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,963 in Frederiksberg and $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Frederiksberg pays 689% 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: $124 in Frederiksberg vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $411 vs $276 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Frederiksberg and Playa del Carmen differ by about 136% in total monthly costs ($2,988 vs $1,266 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?
Average pay runs 689% higher in Frederiksberg, 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,963 in Frederiksberg versus $1,063 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 $47.00 versus $124 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 $2,988 per month in Frederiksberg versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen – a 136% 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 $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,988 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 136% 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