😐A single person spends $2,266 per month in Horten vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,483 per month in Horten vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,700 per month in Horten vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Horten costs about 80% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Horten sits 70% 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
$28.38NOK 271
$11.72MX$203
142.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$103NOK 979
$41.89MX$726
145.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.48NOK 129
$10.51MX$182
28.26%
Cappuccino
$4.86NOK 46.38
$3.59MX$62.1
35.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45NOK 23.39
$1.51MX$26.13
62.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23NOK 21.23
$0.92MX$15.86
142.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.87NOK 84.6
$2.96MX$51.2
199.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.88NOK 94.3
$4.41MX$76.4
124.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Horten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.17NOK 20.68
$1.40MX$24.19
55.00%
White Bread(500g)
$3.45NOK 32.94
$1.88MX$32.65
83.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.19NOK 30.45
$1.56MX$27.01
104.49%
Eggs
$4.22NOK 40.25
$2.61MX$45.20
61.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.94NOK 94.8
$8.32MX$144
19.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.44NOK 128
$8.35MX$145
60.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$23.62NOK 225
$10.86MX$188
117.50%
Apples(1kg)
$3.62NOK 34.53
$2.71MX$47.00
33.58%
Banana(1kg)
$2.34NOK 22.31
$1.51MX$26.08
54.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.29NOK 31.42
$1.87MX$32.46
75.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.07NOK 38.79
$2.19MX$37.94
85.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96NOK 18.73
$1.86MX$32.18
5.38%
Onion(1kg)
$2.14NOK 20.45
$2.23MX$38.64
-4.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.85NOK 27.23
$1.07MX$18.51
166.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.84NOK 17.55
$1.09MX$18.82
68.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.35NOK 137
$4.19MX$72.5
242.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.26NOK 174
$10.43MX$181
75.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.23NOK 30.78
$1.66MX$28.72
94.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02NOK 38.37
$2.61MX$45.26
54.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Horten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$5.05NOK 48.12
$0.54MX$9.39
835.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.4NOK 738
$26.16MX$453
195.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.96NOK 95.0
$3.08MX$53.3
223.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.10NOK 10.47
$2.40MX$41.66
-54.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$102NOK 971
$3.13MX$54.2
3151.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09NOK 19.98
$1.31MX$22.72
59.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8KNOK 341.6K
$29.8KMX$516.4K
20.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7KNOK 368.8K
$23.3KMX$404.1K
65.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Horten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$217NOK 2,070
$81.3MX$1,408
167.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.09NOK 411
$22.56MX$391
91.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.39NOK 290
$30.05MX$521
1.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Horten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.98NOK 467
$52.9MX$917
-7.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.29NOK 337
$18.39MX$319
91.90%
Cinema Ticket
$15.07NOK 144
$4.92MX$85.2
206.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Horten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305NOK 2,909
$201MX$3,479
51.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.0KNOK 95.7K
$5,175MX$89.7K
93.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Horten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$117NOK 1,115
$35.92MX$622
225.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.93NOK 390
$40.13MX$695
1.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$55.3NOK 528
$79.7MX$1,381
-30.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$182NOK 1,733
$86.5MX$1,498
110.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Horten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,074NOK 10.2K
$978MX$16.9K
9.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$804NOK 7,667
$470MX$8,152
70.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,705NOK 16.3K
$1,651MX$28.6K
3.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235NOK 11.8K
$1,203MX$20.9K
2.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,290NOK 50.5K
$3,953MX$68.5K
33.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,826NOK 36.5K
$6,607MX$114.5K
-42.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Horten
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$677MX$11.7K
-
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: July 26, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,074 in Horten versus $978 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 $103 in Horten versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $424 vs $252 – 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: $2,266 in Horten, $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 80% 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 $3,399 per month in Horten and $1,890 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 $2,266 in Horten and $1,260 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 196% 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 $1,260, than in Horten at $2,266. 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 $1,260 in Playa del Carmen to $2,266 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.