😐A single person spends $2,318 per month in Horten vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,539 per month in Horten vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,760 per month in Horten vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Horten costs about 82% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Horten sits 72% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Horten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$28.90NOK 274
$11.87MX$204
143.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101NOK 956
$42.90MX$736
134.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.32NOK 126
$10.65MX$183
25.07%
Cappuccino
$4.88NOK 46.29
$3.45MX$59.2
41.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44NOK 23.15
$1.50MX$25.81
62.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13NOK 20.23
$0.95MX$16.28
124.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.36NOK 88.8
$3.03MX$51.9
208.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.77NOK 92.8
$4.61MX$79.1
111.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Horten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.14NOK 20.27
$1.38MX$23.61
55.07%
White Bread(500g)
$3.39NOK 32.19
$1.85MX$31.70
83.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.07NOK 29.16
$1.61MX$27.65
90.68%
Eggs
$4.31NOK 40.91
$2.59MX$44.51
66.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.81NOK 93.1
$8.26MX$142
18.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.29NOK 126
$8.37MX$144
58.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$23.59NOK 224
$10.66MX$183
121.29%
Apples(1kg)
$3.66NOK 34.78
$2.63MX$45.12
39.16%
Banana(1kg)
$2.28NOK 21.61
$1.49MX$25.53
53.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.37NOK 32.02
$1.92MX$32.94
75.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.92NOK 37.21
$2.09MX$35.81
87.56%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00NOK 19.03
$1.86MX$31.88
7.53%
Onion(1kg)
$2.13NOK 20.23
$2.26MX$38.81
-5.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.80NOK 26.61
$1.06MX$18.23
164.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.84NOK 17.48
$1.09MX$18.67
68.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.05NOK 133
$4.15MX$71.2
238.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.64NOK 177
$10.39MX$178
79.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.33NOK 31.65
$1.72MX$29.59
93.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.99NOK 37.86
$2.61MX$44.85
52.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Horten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$5.17NOK 49.08
$0.54MX$9.30
857.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$74.9NOK 711
$26.94MX$462
177.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.29NOK 97.6
$3.13MX$53.7
228.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.09NOK 10.31
$2.51MX$43.09
-56.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$103NOK 978
$3.15MX$54.1
3169.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.15NOK 20.43
$1.27MX$21.88
69.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.9KNOK 340.5K
$30.4KMX$521.3K
18.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.9KNOK 369.0K
$23.6KMX$404.5K
64.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Horten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$216NOK 2,049
$83.0MX$1,425
160.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.90NOK 417
$22.71MX$390
93.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.06NOK 285
$29.46MX$506
2.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Horten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.41NOK 459
$51.0MX$875
-5.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.89NOK 331
$18.33MX$315
90.34%
Cinema Ticket
$15.09NOK 143
$4.93MX$84.5
206.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Horten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$308NOK 2,923
$197MX$3,386
56.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,951NOK 94.5K
$5,280MX$90.6K
88.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Horten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$114NOK 1,085
$36.90MX$633
209.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.11NOK 390
$39.89MX$685
3.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$54.9NOK 521
$80.0MX$1,373
-31.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$184NOK 1,745
$89.5MX$1,536
105.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Horten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,061NOK 10.1K
$956MX$16.4K
10.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$820NOK 7,779
$477MX$8,189
71.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,686NOK 16.0K
$1,646MX$28.3K
2.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,216NOK 11.5K
$1,225MX$21.0K
-0.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,059NOK 57.5K
$3,918MX$67.2K
54.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,365NOK 41.4K
$6,459MX$110.9K
-32.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Horten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,426NOK 32.5K
$667MX$11.4K
413.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3
11.42
-73.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Horten: June 8, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,061 in Horten versus $956 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 414% higher in Horten, 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 $101 in Horten versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $422 vs $250 – 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
Horten vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Horten and Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,318 in Horten, $1,271 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 82% apart. Horten costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Horten compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,477 per month in Horten and $1,906 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Horten and 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.
Which city is more expensive overall: Horten or Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,318 in Horten and $1,271 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Horten and Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 178% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,271, than in Horten at $2,318. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Horten it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Horten and Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,271 in Playa del Carmen to $2,318 in Horten. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Horten or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Horten and Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Horten makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.