😐A single person spends $2,761 per month in Haugesund vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,116 per month in Haugesund vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,470 per month in Haugesund vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Haugesund costs about 118% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Haugesund sits 102% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Haugesund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.21NOK 209
$11.60MX$199
91.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$106NOK 997
$47.11MX$809
124.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.60NOK 138
$11.88MX$204
22.90%
Cappuccino
$4.82NOK 45.36
$3.98MX$68.2
21.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.07NOK 47.74
$1.43MX$24.49
254.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08NOK 38.44
$0.82MX$14.16
397.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.98NOK 113
$3.19MX$54.7
275.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.51NOK 99.0
$6.79MX$117
54.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Haugesund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.30NOK 21.67
$1.68MX$28.76
36.90%
White Bread(500g)
$3.77NOK 35.49
$2.20MX$37.71
71.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.47NOK 32.68
$1.71MX$29.32
102.92%
Eggs
$4.78NOK 45.02
$2.74MX$47.05
74.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.86NOK 112
$9.58MX$164
23.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.36NOK 145
$9.01MX$155
70.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$36.06NOK 340
$12.81MX$220
181.50%
Apples(1kg)
$3.12NOK 29.36
$2.89MX$49.58
7.96%
Banana(1kg)
$2.21NOK 20.82
$1.50MX$25.70
47.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.55NOK 33.42
$2.15MX$36.87
65.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.51NOK 42.44
$2.26MX$38.79
99.56%
Potato(1kg)
$2.46NOK 23.15
$1.98MX$34.00
24.24%
Onion(1kg)
$3.30NOK 31.11
$1.99MX$34.15
65.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.02NOK 28.44
$1.23MX$21.18
145.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.82NOK 17.16
$1.20MX$20.54
51.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.20NOK 162
$4.55MX$78.1
278.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.15NOK 143
$10.37MX$178
46.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.65NOK 34.39
$1.62MX$27.79
125.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.39NOK 41.36
$2.88MX$49.44
52.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Haugesund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.70NOK 34.85
$0.60MX$10.30
516.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$69.3NOK 653
$28.80MX$494
140.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$12.44NOK 117
$5.39MX$92.5
130.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.93NOK 18.14
$3.73MX$64.0
-48.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$58.1NOK 547
$5.77MX$99.0
906.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.25NOK 21.19
$1.54MX$26.37
46.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.8KNOK 440.7K
$22.5KMX$387.0K
107.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.9KNOK 414.0K
$26.1KMX$447.3K
68.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Haugesund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$292NOK 2,754
$91.4MX$1,569
219.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.85NOK 300
$25.20MX$433
26.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.0NOK 555
$31.24MX$536
88.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Haugesund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.2NOK 473
$67.2MX$1,154
-25.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.12NOK 359
$29.11MX$500
30.95%
Cinema Ticket
$17.12NOK 161
$4.86MX$83.5
252.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Haugesund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$244NOK 2,297
$224MX$3,839
9.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,068NOK 28.9K
$4,229MX$72.6K
-27.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Haugesund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$100NOK 943
$47.10MX$808
112.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.7NOK 525
$44.29MX$760
25.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.1NOK 830
$80.1MX$1,375
10.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$160NOK 1,509
$92.7MX$1,591
72.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Haugesund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,610NOK 15.2K
$1,063MX$18.2K
51.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,117NOK 10.5K
$390MX$6,698
186.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,183NOK 20.6K
$2,149MX$36.9K
1.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,695NOK 16.0K
$1,272MX$21.8K
33.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,357NOK 59.9K
$4,001MX$68.7K
58.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,856NOK 45.7K
$6,502MX$111.6K
-25.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Haugesund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,092NOK 38.5K
$758MX$13.0K
439.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.2
11.45
-54.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Haugesund: September 15, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,610 in Haugesund versus $1,063 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 440% 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 $106 in Haugesund versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $485 vs $276 – 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 118% 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 $4,142 per month in Haugesund and $1,899 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 $106 in Haugesund and $47.00 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 $1,266, than in Haugesund at $2,761. 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 $1,266 versus $2,761 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.