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: $2,988 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
$22.12 DKK 144
$11.60 MX$199
90.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$124 DKK 806
$47.11 MX$809
162.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.17 DKK 92.3
$11.88 MX$204
19.28%
Cappuccino
$7.50 DKK 48.87
$3.98 MX$68.2
88.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37 DKK 28.44
$1.43 MX$24.49
205.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 DKK 22.71
$0.82 MX$14.16
325.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.20 DKK 60.0
$3.19 MX$54.7
188.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.69 DKK 50.1
$6.79 MX$117
13.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.13 DKK 13.85
$1.68 MX$28.76
26.79%
White Bread (500g)
$4.04 DKK 26.29
$2.20 MX$37.71
83.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.48 DKK 16.16
$1.71 MX$29.32
45.03%
Eggs
$5.48 DKK 35.73
$2.74 MX$47.05
100.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.68 DKK 102
$9.58 MX$164
63.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.87 DKK 77.3
$9.01 MX$155
31.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.72 DKK 122
$12.81 MX$220
46.14%
Apples (1kg)
$3.30 DKK 21.48
$2.89 MX$49.58
14.19%
Banana (1kg)
$3.64 DKK 23.70
$1.50 MX$25.70
142.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.87 DKK 25.21
$2.15 MX$36.87
80.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.50 DKK 35.83
$2.26 MX$38.79
143.36%
Potato (1kg)
$2.30 DKK 14.96
$1.98 MX$34.00
16.16%
Onion (1kg)
$2.08 DKK 13.55
$1.99 MX$34.15
4.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.20 DKK 14.33
$1.23 MX$21.18
78.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.48 DKK 9.62
$1.20 MX$20.54
23.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.78 DKK 63.7
$4.55 MX$78.1
114.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.59 DKK 69.0
$10.37 MX$178
2.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 DKK 13.43
$1.62 MX$27.79
27.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 DKK 15.64
$2.88 MX$49.44
-16.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.63 DKK 23.67
$0.60 MX$10.30
505.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$59.7 DKK 389
$28.80 MX$494
107.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.20 DKK 40.36
$5.39 MX$92.5
15.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 DKK 10.75
$3.73 MX$64.0
-55.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$63.2 DKK 412
$5.77 MX$99.0
995.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.57 DKK 16.77
$1.54 MX$26.37
66.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$52.8K DKK 343.7K
$22.5K MX$387.0K
134.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$53.9K DKK 351.4K
$26.1K MX$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)
$190 DKK 1,241
$91.4 MX$1,569
108.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.75 DKK 103
$25.20 MX$433
-37.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.59 DKK 251
$31.24 MX$536
23.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$88.7 DKK 578
$67.2 MX$1,154
32.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.11 MX$500
-
Cinema Ticket
$20.60 DKK 134
$4.86 MX$83.5
323.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$772 DKK 5,029
$224 MX$3,839
245.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,263 DKK 40.8K
$4,229 MX$72.6K
48.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$120 DKK 779
$47.10 MX$808
153.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.6 DKK 330
$44.29 MX$760
14.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$134 DKK 871
$80.1 MX$1,375
66.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$194 DKK 1,264
$92.7 MX$1,591
109.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,963 DKK 12.8K
$1,063 MX$18.2K
84.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,418 DKK 9,240
$390 MX$6,698
263.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,740 DKK 17.9K
$2,149 MX$36.9K
27.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,179 DKK 14.2K
$1,272 MX$21.8K
71.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,203 DKK 53.4K
$4,001 MX$68.7K
104.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,363 DKK 34.9K
$6,502 MX$111.6K
-17.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Frederiksberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,978 DKK 38.9K
$758 MX$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

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