Cost of Living Comparison Between Haugesund and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Haugesund and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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