😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,229 in Kristiansund versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,436 in Kristiansund versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,642 in Kristiansund versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Kristiansund is roughly 72% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Kristiansund is 66% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kristiansund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.42NOK 236
$11.73MX$203
116.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101NOK 942
$41.62MX$720
143.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.63NOK 127
$10.64MX$184
28.10%
Cappuccino
$4.88NOK 45.38
$3.52MX$60.9
38.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17NOK 29.48
$1.51MX$26.12
109.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79NOK 25.94
$0.97MX$16.84
187.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.00NOK 92.9
$2.95MX$51.0
238.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.36NOK 86.9
$4.45MX$77.0
110.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kristiansund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.41NOK 22.36
$1.38MX$23.93
74.64%
White Bread(500g)
$3.37NOK 31.35
$1.89MX$32.72
78.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.25NOK 30.19
$1.64MX$28.32
98.17%
Eggs
$4.47NOK 41.53
$2.51MX$43.34
78.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.82NOK 110
$8.34MX$144
41.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.56NOK 135
$8.34MX$144
74.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.60NOK 256
$10.73MX$186
157.22%
Apples(1kg)
$3.42NOK 31.76
$2.60MX$45.04
31.54%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45NOK 22.79
$1.46MX$25.20
67.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.39NOK 31.46
$1.90MX$32.87
78.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.58NOK 42.53
$2.08MX$35.91
120.19%
Potato(1kg)
$2.44NOK 22.67
$1.78MX$30.71
37.08%
Onion(1kg)
$2.56NOK 23.74
$2.19MX$37.80
16.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.87NOK 26.70
$1.04MX$17.99
175.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.92NOK 17.80
$1.08MX$18.62
77.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.47NOK 144
$4.08MX$70.6
279.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.43NOK 171
$10.32MX$178
78.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.31NOK 30.78
$1.71MX$29.61
93.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02NOK 37.30
$2.58MX$44.54
55.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Kristiansund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.28NOK 39.75
$0.51MX$8.81
739.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$72.6NOK 675
$26.46MX$458
174.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.30NOK 95.7
$3.26MX$56.4
215.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.41NOK 13.08
$2.49MX$43.09
-43.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$47.30NOK 439
$3.25MX$56.2
1355.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.10NOK 19.48
$1.31MX$22.61
60.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3KNOK 328.2K
$30.3KMX$523.7K
16.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.1KNOK 354.4K
$23.4KMX$405.3K
62.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kristiansund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$244NOK 2,267
$82.9MX$1,433
194.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.75NOK 351
$22.22MX$384
69.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.7NOK 508
$29.34MX$507
86.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kristiansund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.19NOK 457
$51.6MX$893
-4.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.12NOK 326
$18.32MX$317
91.70%
Cinema Ticket
$16.36NOK 152
$5.07MX$87.6
222.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kristiansund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$282NOK 2,620
$201MX$3,473
40.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.1KNOK 93.6K
$5,212MX$90.1K
93.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kristiansund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.4NOK 905
$36.92MX$639
163.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.4NOK 477
$39.79MX$688
29.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110NOK 1,017
$78.5MX$1,357
39.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$151NOK 1,403
$87.1MX$1,506
73.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kristiansund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$765NOK 7,109
$973MX$16.8K
-21.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$685NOK 6,364
$468MX$8,090
46.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,213NOK 11.3K
$1,641MX$28.4K
-26.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,026NOK 9,531
$1,221MX$21.1K
-15.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,072NOK 56.4K
$3,946MX$68.3K
53.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,539NOK 42.2K
$6,498MX$112.4K
-30.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kristiansund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,816NOK 35.5K
$664MX$11.5K
474.84%
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 Kristiansund: May 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $765 in Kristiansund and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kristiansund pays 475% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $101 in Kristiansund vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $456 vs $249 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
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
Kristiansund vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kristiansund and Playa del Carmen?
Kristiansund and Playa del Carmen differ by about 72% in total monthly costs ($2,229 vs $1,297 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Kristiansund or Playa del Carmen?
Kristiansund pays 475% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Kristiansund and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $765 in Kristiansund versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 83% higher in Kristiansund. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $101 in Kristiansund. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,229 in Kristiansund, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Kristiansund. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Kristiansund and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Kristiansund or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Kristiansund and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Kristiansund or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 72% less than in Kristiansund. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Kristiansund vs other spots: cost of living compared