😐A single person spends $2,539 per month in Haugesund vs $1,294 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,748 per month in Haugesund vs $2,189 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,957 per month in Haugesund vs $3,084 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Haugesund costs about 96% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Haugesund sits 90% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Haugesund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.68NOK 205
$11.73MX$202
84.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102NOK 962
$41.78MX$719
143.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.49NOK 128
$10.41MX$179
29.59%
Cappuccino
$4.59NOK 43.43
$3.61MX$62.1
27.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19NOK 30.19
$1.46MX$25.06
118.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95NOK 27.91
$0.97MX$16.70
204.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.09NOK 105
$2.92MX$50.3
279.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.35NOK 88.6
$4.62MX$79.5
102.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Haugesund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.10NOK 19.90
$1.43MX$24.59
46.85%
White Bread(500g)
$3.45NOK 32.68
$1.90MX$32.70
81.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.88NOK 27.32
$1.57MX$26.95
83.44%
Eggs
$4.63NOK 43.90
$2.64MX$45.34
75.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.17NOK 106
$8.44MX$145
32.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.45NOK 137
$8.58MX$148
68.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.54NOK 261
$11.00MX$189
150.36%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97NOK 28.18
$2.70MX$46.51
10.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.11NOK 20.02
$1.51MX$25.92
39.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.60NOK 34.07
$1.91MX$32.93
88.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.24NOK 40.12
$2.17MX$37.37
95.39%
Potato(1kg)
$2.68NOK 25.41
$1.87MX$32.25
43.32%
Onion(1kg)
$2.91NOK 27.56
$2.23MX$38.43
30.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.82NOK 26.71
$1.08MX$18.60
161.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.12NOK 20.12
$1.07MX$18.47
98.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$16.00NOK 152
$4.16MX$71.6
284.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.65NOK 139
$10.29MX$177
42.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.38NOK 32.06
$1.68MX$28.95
101.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.42NOK 41.88
$2.53MX$43.59
74.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Haugesund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.50NOK 33.12
$0.55MX$9.53
536.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.0NOK 616
$26.29MX$452
147.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$14.20NOK 135
$3.20MX$55.0
343.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.51NOK 14.27
$2.46MX$42.37
-38.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$53.9NOK 511
$3.20MX$55.0
1585.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.24NOK 21.25
$1.32MX$22.72
69.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.6KNOK 337.6K
$30.2KMX$518.8K
18.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2KNOK 371.3K
$23.4KMX$402.5K
67.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Haugesund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$245NOK 2,323
$81.4MX$1,400
201.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.38NOK 364
$22.41MX$386
71.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.7NOK 527
$29.97MX$516
85.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Haugesund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.30NOK 429
$51.6MX$887
-12.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.81NOK 339
$18.39MX$316
94.73%
Cinema Ticket
$16.62NOK 157
$5.16MX$88.9
222.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Haugesund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$288NOK 2,729
$202MX$3,471
42.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,881NOK 27.3K
$5,311MX$91.4K
-45.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Haugesund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.6NOK 783
$35.61MX$613
132.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.1NOK 522
$40.37MX$695
36.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.8NOK 879
$78.6MX$1,353
18.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$147NOK 1,391
$86.9MX$1,495
69.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Haugesund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,607NOK 15.2K
$950MX$16.3K
69.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,013NOK 9,599
$478MX$8,227
111.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,029NOK 19.2K
$1,621MX$27.9K
25.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,543NOK 14.6K
$1,223MX$21.0K
26.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,432NOK 42.0K
$4,009MX$69.0K
10.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,645NOK 44.0K
$6,473MX$111.4K
-28.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Haugesund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,603NOK 34.1K
$673MX$11.6K
435.46%
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: June 14, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,607 in Haugesund versus $950 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 435% 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: $443 vs $254 – 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 96% 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,808 per month in Haugesund and $1,941 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 Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 75% 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 vs 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 Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,294, than in Haugesund at $2,539. 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 $1,294 versus $2,539 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 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.