😐A single person spends $2,476 per month in Haugesund vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,729 per month in Haugesund vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,982 per month in Haugesund vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Haugesund costs about 97% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Haugesund sits 86% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Haugesund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.54NOK 204
$11.72MX$203
83.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102NOK 972
$41.89MX$725
144.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.46NOK 128
$10.51MX$182
28.07%
Cappuccino
$4.68NOK 44.42
$3.59MX$62.0
30.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09NOK 29.28
$1.51MX$26.10
104.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95NOK 27.97
$0.92MX$15.83
220.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.67NOK 101
$2.96MX$51.2
260.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.37NOK 88.9
$4.41MX$76.3
112.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Haugesund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.10NOK 19.92
$1.40MX$24.16
50.00%
White Bread(500g)
$3.32NOK 31.44
$1.88MX$32.60
76.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.84NOK 26.92
$1.56MX$26.97
82.05%
Eggs
$4.51NOK 42.80
$2.61MX$45.14
72.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.33NOK 107
$8.32MX$144
36.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.51NOK 138
$8.35MX$145
73.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.07NOK 266
$10.86MX$188
158.47%
Apples(1kg)
$3.06NOK 29.00
$2.71MX$46.93
12.92%
Banana(1kg)
$2.15NOK 20.40
$1.51MX$26.04
42.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.60NOK 34.15
$1.87MX$32.41
92.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.11NOK 38.97
$2.19MX$37.89
87.67%
Potato(1kg)
$2.74NOK 25.98
$1.86MX$32.14
47.31%
Onion(1kg)
$2.81NOK 26.63
$2.23MX$38.59
26.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.91NOK 27.61
$1.07MX$18.48
171.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.14NOK 20.31
$1.09MX$18.79
96.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$16.29NOK 154
$4.19MX$72.4
288.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.27NOK 135
$10.43MX$180
36.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.30NOK 31.31
$1.66MX$28.68
98.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.29NOK 40.71
$2.61MX$45.19
64.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Haugesund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.61NOK 34.22
$0.54MX$9.37
568.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.4NOK 620
$26.16MX$453
149.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$14.39NOK 136
$3.08MX$53.3
367.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.51NOK 14.33
$2.40MX$41.61
-37.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$54.8NOK 520
$3.13MX$54.1
1651.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.15NOK 20.40
$1.31MX$22.69
64.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3KNOK 335.2K
$29.8KMX$515.7K
18.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.0KNOK 379.1K
$23.3KMX$403.5K
71.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Haugesund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$243NOK 2,301
$81.3MX$1,406
198.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.85NOK 368
$22.56MX$390
72.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.6NOK 527
$30.05MX$520
84.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Haugesund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.68NOK 424
$52.9MX$915
-15.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.94NOK 341
$18.39MX$318
95.43%
Cinema Ticket
$16.34NOK 155
$4.92MX$85.1
232.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Haugesund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$280NOK 2,654
$201MX$3,474
39.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,941NOK 27.9K
$5,175MX$89.5K
-43.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Haugesund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.2NOK 789
$35.92MX$622
131.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.5NOK 527
$40.13MX$694
38.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.7NOK 898
$79.7MX$1,379
18.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$147NOK 1,394
$86.5MX$1,496
70.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Haugesund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,640NOK 15.5K
$978MX$16.9K
67.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,022NOK 9,686
$470MX$8,140
117.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,061NOK 19.5K
$1,651MX$28.6K
24.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,549NOK 14.7K
$1,203MX$20.8K
28.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,218NOK 40.0K
$3,953MX$68.4K
6.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,596NOK 43.6K
$6,607MX$114.3K
-30.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Haugesund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,941NOK 37.4K
$677MX$11.7K
482.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.98
11.42
-65.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Haugesund: July 27, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,640 in Haugesund 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 482% higher in Haugesund, 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 $102 in Haugesund versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $442 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
Haugesund vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Haugesund or Playa del Carmen?
Haugesund costs about 97% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Haugesund and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,715 per month in Haugesund and $1,890 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Haugesund or 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.
Are groceries more expensive in Haugesund or in Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 76% more in Haugesund, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Haugesund and in Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Haugesund and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Haugesund or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,260, than in Haugesund at $2,476. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Haugesund it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Haugesund or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,260 versus $2,476 in Haugesund. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Haugesund compared to Playa del Carmen?
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.
Should I move to Haugesund or to Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Haugesund makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.