😐A single person spends $2,493 per month in Haugesund vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,755 per month in Haugesund vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,017 per month in Haugesund vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Haugesund costs about 94% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Haugesund sits 86% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Haugesund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.11NOK 197
$11.94MX$208
76.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102NOK 949
$42.75MX$744
138.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.84NOK 129
$10.59MX$184
30.69%
Cappuccino
$4.76NOK 44.32
$3.62MX$63.0
31.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10NOK 28.89
$1.47MX$25.54
110.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94NOK 27.44
$0.94MX$16.41
212.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.69NOK 99.6
$3.09MX$53.8
245.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.37NOK 87.3
$4.46MX$77.6
110.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Haugesund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.14NOK 19.96
$1.43MX$24.80
49.65%
White Bread(500g)
$3.40NOK 31.68
$1.88MX$32.79
80.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.92NOK 27.20
$1.63MX$28.34
79.14%
Eggs
$4.63NOK 43.13
$2.64MX$45.99
75.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.45NOK 107
$8.21MX$143
39.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.62NOK 136
$8.29MX$144
76.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.26NOK 263
$11.10MX$193
154.59%
Apples(1kg)
$3.09NOK 28.77
$2.65MX$46.14
16.60%
Banana(1kg)
$2.07NOK 19.33
$1.50MX$26.11
38.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.73NOK 34.80
$1.99MX$34.59
87.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.27NOK 39.76
$2.08MX$36.13
105.29%
Potato(1kg)
$2.68NOK 24.98
$1.79MX$31.11
49.72%
Onion(1kg)
$2.81NOK 26.18
$2.18MX$37.87
28.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.89NOK 26.90
$1.08MX$18.73
167.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.11NOK 19.68
$1.04MX$18.04
102.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$16.36NOK 152
$3.97MX$69.1
312.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.81NOK 138
$10.20MX$178
45.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.44NOK 32.06
$1.73MX$30.04
98.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.26NOK 39.71
$2.50MX$43.46
70.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Haugesund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.64NOK 33.88
$0.52MX$9.02
600.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.9NOK 614
$26.97MX$469
144.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$13.89NOK 130
$3.14MX$54.7
342.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.52NOK 14.16
$2.40MX$41.80
-36.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$55.4NOK 516
$3.09MX$53.7
1693.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.24NOK 20.83
$1.27MX$22.16
76.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2KNOK 328.5K
$30.9KMX$537.3K
14.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.3KNOK 375.9K
$23.3KMX$405.7K
72.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Haugesund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$239NOK 2,229
$82.0MX$1,427
191.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.95NOK 354
$22.45MX$391
69.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.7NOK 519
$29.66MX$516
87.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Haugesund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.63NOK 416
$51.9MX$903
-13.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.42NOK 330
$18.67MX$325
89.72%
Cinema Ticket
$16.32NOK 152
$4.97MX$86.5
228.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Haugesund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$289NOK 2,694
$198MX$3,442
46.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,876NOK 26.8K
$5,273MX$91.7K
-45.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Haugesund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.2NOK 757
$36.34MX$632
123.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.7NOK 510
$40.05MX$697
36.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.1NOK 868
$79.9MX$1,390
16.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$147NOK 1,371
$88.9MX$1,547
65.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Haugesund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,648NOK 15.4K
$963MX$16.8K
71.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,043NOK 9,720
$465MX$8,086
124.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,061NOK 19.2K
$1,596MX$27.8K
29.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,541NOK 14.4K
$1,209MX$21.0K
27.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,555NOK 42.5K
$3,942MX$68.6K
15.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,752NOK 44.3K
$6,448MX$112.2K
-26.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Haugesund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,882NOK 36.2K
$720MX$12.5K
438.81%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,648 in Haugesund versus $963 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 439% 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $448 vs $251 – 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 94% 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 $3,740 per month in Haugesund and $1,930 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 79% 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 $43.00 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 $1,287, than in Haugesund at $2,493. 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 $1,287 versus $2,493 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.