😐A single person spends $2,708 per month in Horten vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,851 per month in Horten vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,993 per month in Horten vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Horten costs about 114% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Horten sits 98% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Horten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.21NOK 200
$11.60MX$199
82.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$130NOK 1,223
$47.11MX$809
175.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.32NOK 154
$11.88MX$204
37.37%
Cappuccino
$6.11NOK 57.6
$3.98MX$68.2
53.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02NOK 28.49
$1.43MX$24.49
111.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32NOK 31.27
$0.82MX$14.16
304.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.81NOK 111
$3.19MX$54.7
270.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$12.84NOK 121
$6.79MX$117
89.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Horten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.31NOK 21.74
$1.68MX$28.76
37.50%
White Bread(500g)
$3.50NOK 32.93
$2.20MX$37.71
59.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.05NOK 38.14
$1.71MX$29.32
136.84%
Eggs
$5.31NOK 50.0
$2.74MX$47.05
93.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.79NOK 73.4
$9.58MX$164
-18.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.74NOK 148
$9.01MX$155
74.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.97NOK 113
$12.81MX$220
-6.56%
Apples(1kg)
$3.46NOK 32.62
$2.89MX$49.58
19.72%
Banana(1kg)
$2.72NOK 25.64
$1.50MX$25.70
81.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.54NOK 33.30
$2.15MX$36.87
64.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.95NOK 56.0
$2.26MX$38.79
163.27%
Potato(1kg)
$2.78NOK 26.23
$1.98MX$34.00
40.40%
Onion(1kg)
$2.88NOK 27.09
$1.99MX$34.15
44.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.22NOK 20.90
$1.23MX$21.18
80.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.42NOK 22.77
$1.20MX$20.54
101.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$19.42NOK 183
$4.55MX$78.1
326.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.98NOK 160
$10.37MX$178
63.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.64NOK 34.32
$1.62MX$27.79
124.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45NOK 41.89
$2.88MX$49.44
54.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Horten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.77NOK 44.89
$0.60MX$10.30
695.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.4NOK 824
$28.80MX$494
203.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$12.17NOK 115
$5.39MX$92.5
125.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.93NOK 18.19
$3.73MX$64.0
-48.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$72.2NOK 680
$5.77MX$99.0
1150.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.28NOK 21.48
$1.54MX$26.37
48.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.5KNOK 466.0K
$22.5KMX$387.0K
119.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$46.1KNOK 434.0K
$26.1KMX$447.3K
76.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Horten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$420NOK 3,959
$91.4MX$1,569
359.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.22NOK 313
$25.20MX$433
31.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.8NOK 525
$31.24MX$536
78.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Horten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$67.2MX$1,154
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.11MX$500
-
Cinema Ticket
$18.97NOK 179
$4.86MX$83.5
290.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Horten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$130NOK 1,224
$224MX$3,839
-41.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8KNOK 149.1K
$4,229MX$72.6K
274.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Horten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105NOK 985
$47.10MX$808
122.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.77NOK 403
$44.29MX$760
-3.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.1NOK 566
$80.1MX$1,375
-25.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158NOK 1,484
$92.7MX$1,591
70.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Horten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,145NOK 10.8K
$1,063MX$18.2K
7.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,032NOK 9,721
$390MX$6,698
164.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,793NOK 16.9K
$2,149MX$36.9K
-16.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,288NOK 12.1K
$1,272MX$21.8K
1.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,001MX$68.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,502MX$111.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Horten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$758MX$13.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.98
11.45
-56.51%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Horten: September 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,145 in Horten 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $130 in Horten versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $424 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
Horten vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Horten and in Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,708 in Horten, $1,266 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 114% 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 $4,062 per month in Horten and $1,899 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 $2,708 in Horten and $1,266 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 204% 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 $1,266, than in Horten at $2,708. 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 $1,266 in Playa del Carmen to $2,708 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.