😐A single person spends $2,349 per month in Gjovik vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,717 per month in Gjovik vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,085 per month in Gjovik vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Gjovik costs about 85% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Gjovik sits 75% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gjovik
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.86NOK 236
$11.87MX$204
109.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$121NOK 1,146
$42.90MX$736
181.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.46NOK 147
$10.65MX$183
45.16%
Cappuccino
$4.13NOK 39.23
$3.45MX$59.2
19.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.16NOK 39.52
$1.50MX$25.81
177.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07NOK 29.16
$0.95MX$16.28
223.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.86NOK 93.6
$3.03MX$51.9
225.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.98NOK 75.8
$4.61MX$79.1
73.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gjovik
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.36NOK 22.37
$1.38MX$23.61
71.01%
White Bread(500g)
$4.03NOK 38.28
$1.85MX$31.70
117.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.66NOK 34.70
$1.61MX$27.65
127.33%
Eggs
$4.93NOK 46.84
$2.59MX$44.51
90.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.31NOK 126
$8.26MX$142
61.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.14NOK 153
$8.37MX$144
92.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$30.77NOK 292
$10.66MX$183
188.65%
Apples(1kg)
$3.56NOK 33.74
$2.63MX$45.12
35.36%
Banana(1kg)
$2.51NOK 23.79
$1.49MX$25.53
68.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.32NOK 31.55
$1.92MX$32.94
72.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.10NOK 48.44
$2.09MX$35.81
144.02%
Potato(1kg)
$2.42NOK 22.97
$1.86MX$31.88
30.11%
Onion(1kg)
$2.60NOK 24.64
$2.26MX$38.81
15.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.73NOK 25.94
$1.06MX$18.23
157.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.31NOK 21.92
$1.09MX$18.67
111.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.30NOK 164
$4.15MX$71.2
316.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.58NOK 176
$10.39MX$178
78.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.35NOK 31.77
$1.72MX$29.59
94.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.23NOK 40.14
$2.61MX$44.85
62.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Gjovik
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.61NOK 24.81
$0.54MX$9.30
383.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$61.2NOK 581
$26.94MX$462
127.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.00NOK 94.9
$3.13MX$53.7
219.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.43NOK 13.62
$2.51MX$43.09
-43.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$42.05NOK 399
$3.15MX$54.1
1234.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.22NOK 21.06
$1.27MX$21.88
74.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8KNOK 339.9K
$30.4KMX$521.3K
17.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.9KNOK 406.9K
$23.6KMX$404.5K
81.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gjovik
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$302NOK 2,868
$83.0MX$1,425
264.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.01NOK 294
$22.71MX$390
36.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.9NOK 530
$29.46MX$506
89.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gjovik
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.31NOK 335
$51.0MX$875
-30.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.87NOK 340
$18.33MX$315
95.69%
Cinema Ticket
$18.13NOK 172
$4.93MX$84.5
267.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gjovik
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$267NOK 2,532
$197MX$3,386
35.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7KNOK 139.3K
$5,280MX$90.6K
177.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gjovik
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103NOK 980
$36.90MX$633
179.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.9NOK 626
$39.89MX$685
65.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124NOK 1,179
$80.0MX$1,373
55.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$165NOK 1,568
$89.5MX$1,536
84.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gjovik
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,605NOK 15.2K
$956MX$16.4K
67.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$708NOK 6,721
$477MX$8,189
48.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,810NOK 17.2K
$1,646MX$28.3K
10.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,217NOK 11.6K
$1,225MX$21.0K
-0.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,918MX$67.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,459MX$110.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gjovik
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,729NOK 35.4K
$667MX$11.4K
459.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.08
11.42
-55.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gjovik: June 7, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,605 in Gjovik versus $956 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 459% higher in Gjovik, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $121 in Gjovik versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $496 vs $250 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Gjovik vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Gjovik and Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,349 in Gjovik, $1,271 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 85% apart. Gjovik costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Gjovik compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,524 per month in Gjovik and $1,906 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Gjovik and Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 99% more in Gjovik, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $121 in Gjovik and $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,271, than in Gjovik at $2,349. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gjovik it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Gjovik and Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,271 in Playa del Carmen to $2,349 in Gjovik. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Gjovik or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Gjovik and Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Gjovik makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.