😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,389 in Kristiansund versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,659 in Kristiansund versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,928 in Kristiansund versus $3,374 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Kristiansund is roughly 85% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Kristiansund is 74% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kristiansund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.31NOK 170
$11.71MX$198
56.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$111NOK 1,030
$46.59MX$788
138.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.44NOK 153
$11.65MX$197
41.12%
Cappuccino
$5.50NOK 51.0
$4.09MX$69.2
34.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76NOK 34.95
$1.37MX$23.23
174.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05NOK 28.33
$0.83MX$14.09
267.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$13.39NOK 124
$3.35MX$56.7
299.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.09NOK 93.7
$6.91MX$117
46.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kristiansund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.58NOK 23.96
$1.73MX$29.20
49.13%
White Bread(500g)
$3.63NOK 33.68
$2.26MX$38.21
60.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.95NOK 36.69
$1.77MX$29.91
123.16%
Eggs
$4.95NOK 45.99
$2.73MX$46.19
81.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.23NOK 123
$9.18MX$155
44.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.46NOK 144
$8.92MX$151
73.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$29.91NOK 278
$12.60MX$213
137.38%
Apples(1kg)
$3.49NOK 32.36
$3.02MX$51.1
15.56%
Banana(1kg)
$2.67NOK 24.79
$1.57MX$26.55
70.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.45NOK 32.05
$2.13MX$35.93
61.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.29NOK 49.07
$2.26MX$38.28
134.07%
Potato(1kg)
$2.66NOK 24.68
$2.00MX$33.88
33.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.86NOK 26.57
$2.06MX$34.90
38.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.05NOK 28.34
$1.18MX$19.94
158.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.34NOK 21.73
$1.20MX$20.35
95.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.93NOK 166
$4.63MX$78.4
287.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.93NOK 157
$10.69MX$181
58.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.44NOK 31.98
$1.62MX$27.38
112.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46NOK 41.39
$2.88MX$48.70
54.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Kristiansund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.77NOK 44.25
$0.57MX$9.69
736.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.1NOK 809
$29.83MX$504
191.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$12.33NOK 114
$5.45MX$92.1
126.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.72NOK 15.95
$3.70MX$62.6
-53.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$77.2NOK 716
$5.98MX$101
1190.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.45NOK 22.72
$1.55MX$26.26
58.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.8KNOK 452.9K
$22.3KMX$377.4K
118.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.5KNOK 413.4K
$25.9KMX$438.7K
71.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kristiansund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$277NOK 2,571
$89.1MX$1,507
210.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.16NOK 317
$25.04MX$423
36.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.0NOK 538
$31.50MX$532
83.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kristiansund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.44NOK 375
$67.8MX$1,146
-40.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.94NOK 278
$28.92MX$489
3.53%
Cinema Ticket
$26.95NOK 250
$5.05MX$85.4
433.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kristiansund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$247NOK 2,291
$225MX$3,803
9.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.2KNOK 113.2K
$4,222MX$71.4K
188.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kristiansund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103NOK 955
$47.44MX$802
116.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.2NOK 513
$44.98MX$760
22.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$128NOK 1,188
$82.0MX$1,386
56.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$162NOK 1,500
$92.1MX$1,557
75.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kristiansund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$812NOK 7,536
$1,069MX$18.1K
-24.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716NOK 6,649
$405MX$6,852
76.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,285NOK 11.9K
$1,935MX$32.7K
-33.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,066NOK 9,896
$1,301MX$22.0K
-18.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,432NOK 59.7K
$3,995MX$67.5K
60.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,292NOK 39.9K
$6,626MX$112.0K
-35.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kristiansund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,777NOK 35.1K
$749MX$12.7K
404.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.96
11.45
-56.68%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kristiansund: August 30, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $812 in Kristiansund and $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kristiansund pays 405% 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: $111 in Kristiansund vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $492 vs $277 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 85% in total monthly costs ($2,389 vs $1,293 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 405% 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: $812 in Kristiansund versus $1,069 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 78% 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 $47.00 versus $111 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 $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,389 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 85% 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