😐A single person spends $2,373 per month in Gjovik vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,674 per month in Gjovik vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,975 per month in Gjovik vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Gjovik costs about 88% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Gjovik sits 78% 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
$25.62NOK 243
$11.72MX$203
118.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$123NOK 1,165
$41.89MX$725
193.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.15NOK 144
$10.51MX$182
44.15%
Cappuccino
$4.07NOK 38.56
$3.59MX$62.0
13.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19NOK 39.76
$1.51MX$26.10
177.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13NOK 29.68
$0.92MX$15.83
240.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.71NOK 92.0
$2.96MX$51.2
228.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.34NOK 79.0
$4.41MX$76.3
89.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gjovik
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.36NOK 22.38
$1.40MX$24.16
68.57%
White Bread(500g)
$3.96NOK 37.60
$1.88MX$32.60
110.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.64NOK 34.54
$1.56MX$26.97
133.33%
Eggs
$4.93NOK 46.70
$2.61MX$45.14
88.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.62NOK 129
$8.32MX$144
63.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.45NOK 156
$8.35MX$145
97.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$31.81NOK 302
$10.86MX$188
192.91%
Apples(1kg)
$3.49NOK 33.09
$2.71MX$46.93
28.78%
Banana(1kg)
$2.60NOK 24.61
$1.51MX$26.04
72.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.36NOK 31.85
$1.87MX$32.41
79.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.99NOK 47.31
$2.19MX$37.89
127.85%
Potato(1kg)
$2.52NOK 23.89
$1.86MX$32.14
35.48%
Onion(1kg)
$2.58NOK 24.50
$2.23MX$38.59
15.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.76NOK 26.20
$1.07MX$18.48
157.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.30NOK 21.84
$1.09MX$18.79
111.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.38NOK 165
$4.19MX$72.4
314.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.23NOK 173
$10.43MX$180
74.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.40NOK 32.25
$1.66MX$28.68
104.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.26NOK 40.40
$2.61MX$45.19
63.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Gjovik
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.64NOK 25.01
$0.54MX$9.37
388.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$61.6NOK 584
$26.16MX$453
135.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.27NOK 97.4
$3.08MX$53.3
233.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.39NOK 13.14
$2.40MX$41.61
-42.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$41.78NOK 396
$3.13MX$54.1
1234.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.21NOK 20.99
$1.31MX$22.69
68.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8KNOK 339.4K
$29.8KMX$515.7K
20.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.2KNOK 409.5K
$23.3KMX$403.5K
85.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gjovik
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$298NOK 2,830
$81.3MX$1,406
267.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.49NOK 289
$22.56MX$390
35.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.0NOK 540
$30.05MX$520
89.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gjovik
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.59NOK 337
$52.9MX$915
-32.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.02NOK 342
$18.39MX$318
95.87%
Cinema Ticket
$18.29NOK 173
$4.92MX$85.1
271.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gjovik
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266NOK 2,519
$201MX$3,474
32.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.5KNOK 137.8K
$5,175MX$89.5K
180.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gjovik
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106NOK 1,001
$35.92MX$622
193.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.2NOK 628
$40.13MX$694
64.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$123NOK 1,164
$79.7MX$1,379
54.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$167NOK 1,579
$86.5MX$1,496
92.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gjovik
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,614NOK 15.3K
$978MX$16.9K
65.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$699NOK 6,630
$470MX$8,140
48.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,791NOK 17.0K
$1,651MX$28.6K
8.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,222NOK 11.6K
$1,203MX$20.8K
1.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,763NOK 64.1K
$3,953MX$68.4K
71.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,232NOK 40.1K
$6,607MX$114.3K
-35.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gjovik
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,660NOK 34.7K
$677MX$11.7K
440.87%
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: July 26, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,614 in Gjovik versus $978 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 441% 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 $123 in Gjovik versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $501 vs $252 – 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 in Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,373 in Gjovik, $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 88% 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 $3,559 per month in Gjovik and $1,890 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 $123 in Gjovik and $42.00 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 $1,260, than in Gjovik at $2,373. 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 $1,260 in Playa del Carmen to $2,373 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.