😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,260 in Kristiansund versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,403 in Kristiansund versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,547 in Kristiansund versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Kristiansund is roughly 80% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Kristiansund is 69% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kristiansund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.66NOK 247
$11.99MX$210
114.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102NOK 984
$41.78MX$731
144.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.47NOK 130
$10.75MX$188
25.30%
Cappuccino
$5.05NOK 48.60
$3.50MX$61.1
44.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21NOK 30.90
$1.45MX$25.33
121.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90NOK 27.98
$0.88MX$15.47
229.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.25NOK 98.7
$2.95MX$51.6
247.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.57NOK 92.2
$4.51MX$78.9
112.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kristiansund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.38NOK 22.90
$1.43MX$25.04
66.43%
White Bread(500g)
$3.40NOK 32.78
$1.84MX$32.13
84.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.20NOK 30.82
$1.57MX$27.42
103.82%
Eggs
$4.45NOK 42.83
$2.51MX$43.92
77.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.99NOK 115
$8.28MX$145
44.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.50NOK 140
$8.43MX$147
72.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.13NOK 271
$10.68MX$187
163.39%
Apples(1kg)
$3.43NOK 33.06
$2.61MX$45.62
31.42%
Banana(1kg)
$2.46NOK 23.65
$1.44MX$25.15
70.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.42NOK 32.95
$1.96MX$34.31
74.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.54NOK 43.73
$2.09MX$36.62
117.22%
Potato(1kg)
$2.48NOK 23.84
$1.85MX$32.37
34.05%
Onion(1kg)
$2.59NOK 24.96
$2.17MX$37.90
19.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.82NOK 27.18
$1.03MX$18.04
173.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.92NOK 18.50
$1.07MX$18.78
79.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.15NOK 146
$4.10MX$71.7
269.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.14NOK 165
$10.17MX$178
68.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.27NOK 31.45
$1.68MX$29.29
94.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.99NOK 38.46
$2.53MX$44.17
57.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Kristiansund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.14NOK 39.84
$0.51MX$8.90
711.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$74.2NOK 715
$26.04MX$455
185.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.29NOK 99.1
$3.23MX$56.5
218.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.38NOK 13.28
$2.41MX$42.06
-42.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$47.54NOK 458
$3.23MX$56.5
1371.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.07NOK 19.91
$1.32MX$23.10
56.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.1KNOK 347.5K
$29.7KMX$519.2K
21.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2KNOK 377.4K
$23.7KMX$413.7K
65.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kristiansund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$242NOK 2,333
$82.0MX$1,434
195.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.08NOK 367
$22.95MX$401
65.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.2NOK 542
$30.11MX$527
86.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kristiansund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.02NOK 472
$52.0MX$909
-5.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.32NOK 340
$18.53MX$324
90.61%
Cinema Ticket
$16.48NOK 159
$4.98MX$87.0
230.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kristiansund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$288NOK 2,778
$197MX$3,452
46.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.2KNOK 98.6K
$5,336MX$93.3K
91.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kristiansund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.0NOK 924
$35.60MX$622
169.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.0NOK 501
$40.33MX$705
28.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107NOK 1,029
$78.8MX$1,377
35.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150NOK 1,449
$88.9MX$1,555
69.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kristiansund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$762NOK 7,335
$947MX$16.6K
-19.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$665NOK 6,401
$474MX$8,288
40.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,211NOK 11.7K
$1,644MX$28.7K
-26.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,029NOK 9,912
$1,211MX$21.2K
-14.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,733NOK 55.2K
$4,056MX$70.9K
41.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,969NOK 38.2K
$6,470MX$113.1K
-38.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kristiansund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,675NOK 35.4K
$654MX$11.4K
462.05%
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: July 11, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $762 in Kristiansund and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kristiansund pays 462% 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: $102 in Kristiansund vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $455 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Kristiansund and Playa del Carmen differ by about 80% in total monthly costs ($2,260 vs $1,256 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?
Average pay runs 462% higher in Kristiansund, 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $762 in Kristiansund versus $947 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 $102 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 $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,260 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 80% 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