😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,134 in Frederiksberg versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,880 in Frederiksberg versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,625 in Frederiksberg versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Frederiksberg is roughly 69% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Frederiksberg is 60% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.92DKK 148
$11.72MX$203
95.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$114DKK 739
$41.89MX$725
172.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.84DKK 89.6
$10.51MX$182
31.68%
Cappuccino
$6.92DKK 44.78
$3.59MX$62.0
92.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.40DKK 28.48
$1.51MX$26.10
191.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09DKK 19.99
$0.92MX$15.83
235.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.14DKK 59.2
$2.96MX$51.2
208.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.67DKK 49.63
$4.41MX$76.3
73.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.97DKK 12.75
$1.40MX$24.16
40.71%
White Bread(500g)
$4.02DKK 26.06
$1.88MX$32.60
113.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.59DKK 16.74
$1.56MX$26.97
66.03%
Eggs
$5.70DKK 36.88
$2.61MX$45.14
118.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.77DKK 95.6
$8.32MX$144
77.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.18DKK 72.4
$8.35MX$145
33.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.22DKK 105
$10.86MX$188
49.36%
Apples(1kg)
$3.19DKK 20.64
$2.71MX$46.93
17.71%
Banana(1kg)
$3.24DKK 21.00
$1.51MX$26.04
114.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.65DKK 23.65
$1.87MX$32.41
95.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.48DKK 35.51
$2.19MX$37.89
150.23%
Potato(1kg)
$2.35DKK 15.19
$1.86MX$32.14
26.34%
Onion(1kg)
$1.83DKK 11.87
$2.23MX$38.59
-17.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.35DKK 15.20
$1.07MX$18.48
119.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.67DKK 10.82
$1.09MX$18.79
53.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.29DKK 66.6
$4.19MX$72.4
145.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.09DKK 65.3
$10.43MX$180
-3.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96DKK 12.72
$1.66MX$28.68
18.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15DKK 13.89
$2.61MX$45.19
-17.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.80DKK 24.62
$0.54MX$9.37
603.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$93.5DKK 606
$26.16MX$453
257.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.85DKK 50.8
$3.08MX$53.3
154.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.69DKK 10.91
$2.40MX$41.61
-29.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$108DKK 701
$3.13MX$54.1
3358.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.19DKK 14.17
$1.31MX$22.69
67.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.6KDKK 314.5K
$29.8KMX$515.7K
62.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$48.5KDKK 314.1K
$23.3KMX$403.5K
107.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$202DKK 1,309
$81.3MX$1,406
148.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.44DKK 126
$22.56MX$390
-13.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.28DKK 267
$30.05MX$520
37.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.41DKK 268
$52.9MX$915
-21.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.90DKK 194
$18.39MX$318
62.59%
Cinema Ticket
$18.26DKK 118
$4.92MX$85.1
271.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$607DKK 3,932
$201MX$3,474
202.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,796DKK 37.5K
$5,175MX$89.5K
12.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$129DKK 836
$35.92MX$622
259.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.50DKK 288
$40.13MX$694
10.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121DKK 781
$79.7MX$1,379
51.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$198DKK 1,283
$86.5MX$1,496
129.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,964DKK 12.7K
$978MX$16.9K
100.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$705DKK 4,565
$470MX$8,140
49.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,600DKK 16.8K
$1,651MX$28.6K
57.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,159DKK 14.0K
$1,203MX$20.8K
79.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,145DKK 52.7K
$3,953MX$68.4K
106.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,246DKK 34.0K
$6,607MX$114.3K
-20.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,023DKK 39.0K
$677MX$11.7K
790.15%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,964 in Frederiksberg and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Frederiksberg pays 790% 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: $114 in Frederiksberg vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $394 vs $252 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 69% in total monthly costs ($2,134 vs $1,260 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 790% 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: $1,964 in Frederiksberg versus $978 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 $42.00 versus $114 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 $2,134 per month in Frederiksberg versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – a 69% 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 $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,134 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 69% 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