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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,385 per month in Kongsberg vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,610 per month in Kongsberg vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,835 per month in Kongsberg vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Kongsberg costs about 84% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Kongsberg sits 78% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kongsberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.87 NOK 203
$11.73 MX$203
86.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.1 NOK 651
$41.62 MX$720
68.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.62 NOK 127
$10.64 MX$184
28.01%
Cappuccino
$4.90 NOK 45.54
$3.52 MX$60.9
39.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 NOK 23.32
$1.51 MX$26.12
66.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 NOK 19.98
$0.97 MX$16.84
121.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.37 NOK 87.0
$2.95 MX$51.0
217.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.26 NOK 95.3
$4.45 MX$77.0
130.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kongsberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 NOK 20.21
$1.38 MX$23.93
57.97%
White Bread (500g)
$2.98 NOK 27.69
$1.89 MX$32.72
57.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.25 NOK 30.23
$1.64 MX$28.32
98.17%
Eggs
$4.61 NOK 42.82
$2.51 MX$43.34
83.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.44 NOK 97.0
$8.34 MX$144
25.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.72 NOK 109
$8.34 MX$144
40.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.12 NOK 168
$10.73 MX$186
68.87%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 NOK 28.05
$2.60 MX$45.04
16.15%
Banana (1kg)
$2.26 NOK 21.04
$1.46 MX$25.20
54.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.28 NOK 30.46
$1.90 MX$32.87
72.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.13 NOK 38.38
$2.08 MX$35.91
98.56%
Potato (1kg)
$2.19 NOK 20.37
$1.78 MX$30.71
23.03%
Onion (1kg)
$2.24 NOK 20.83
$2.19 MX$37.80
2.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.92 NOK 27.10
$1.04 MX$17.99
180.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 NOK 16.88
$1.08 MX$18.62
68.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$17.52 NOK 163
$4.08 MX$70.6
329.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.39 NOK 152
$10.32 MX$178
58.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.19 NOK 29.63
$1.71 MX$29.61
86.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84 NOK 35.70
$2.58 MX$44.54
48.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Kongsberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.57 NOK 23.91
$0.51 MX$8.81
403.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$91.2 NOK 848
$26.46 MX$458
244.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$10.09 NOK 93.7
$3.26 MX$56.4
209.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.45 NOK 13.46
$2.49 MX$43.09
-41.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.30 NOK 281
$3.25 MX$56.2
832.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.20 NOK 20.41
$1.31 MX$22.61
67.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.2K NOK 346.0K
$30.3K MX$523.7K
22.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.0K NOK 371.5K
$23.4K MX$405.3K
70.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kongsberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$217 NOK 2,016
$82.9 MX$1,433
161.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.89 NOK 250
$22.22 MX$384
21.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.57 NOK 358
$29.34 MX$507
31.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kongsberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.30 NOK 421
$51.6 MX$893
-12.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$53.3 NOK 495
$18.32 MX$317
190.78%
Cinema Ticket
$20.23 NOK 188
$5.07 MX$87.6
299.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kongsberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 NOK 2,847
$201 MX$3,473
52.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,663 NOK 34.0K
$5,212 MX$90.1K
-29.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kongsberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.1 NOK 799
$36.92 MX$639
133.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.1 NOK 484
$39.79 MX$688
30.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$159 NOK 1,479
$78.5 MX$1,357
102.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$164 NOK 1,522
$87.1 MX$1,506
88.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kongsberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,003 NOK 9,314
$973 MX$16.8K
3.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$902 NOK 8,378
$468 MX$8,090
92.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,723 NOK 16.0K
$1,641 MX$28.4K
4.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,539 NOK 14.3K
$1,221 MX$21.1K
26.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,208 NOK 57.7K
$3,946 MX$68.3K
57.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,384 NOK 40.7K
$6,498 MX$112.4K
-32.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kongsberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,604 NOK 33.5K
$664 MX$11.5K
442.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.38
11.42
-61.65%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kongsberg: May 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,003 in Kongsberg versus $973 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 443% higher in Kongsberg, 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 $70.0 in Kongsberg versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $391 vs $249 – 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
Kongsberg vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Kongsberg?
Yes – Kongsberg is pricier by about 84%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,577 per month in Kongsberg and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Kongsberg vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,385 in Kongsberg and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 245% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Kongsberg or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Kongsberg at $2,385. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kongsberg it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Kongsberg or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Kongsberg or 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kongsberg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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