😐A single person spends $2,372 per month in Moss vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,530 per month in Moss vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,689 per month in Moss vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Moss costs about 89% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Moss sits 78% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Moss
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.23NOK 176
$11.99MX$210
52.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101NOK 968
$41.78MX$731
140.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.92NOK 124
$10.75MX$188
20.19%
Cappuccino
$3.91NOK 37.65
$3.50MX$61.1
11.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23NOK 31.10
$1.45MX$25.33
122.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60NOK 25.04
$0.88MX$15.47
195.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.60NOK 63.5
$2.95MX$51.6
123.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.92NOK 76.3
$4.51MX$78.9
75.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Moss
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.12NOK 20.43
$1.43MX$25.04
48.25%
White Bread(500g)
$3.49NOK 33.66
$1.84MX$32.13
89.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.51NOK 33.79
$1.57MX$27.42
123.57%
Eggs
$3.33NOK 32.04
$2.51MX$43.92
32.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.36NOK 129
$8.28MX$145
61.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.25NOK 118
$8.43MX$147
45.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$26.41NOK 254
$10.68MX$187
147.28%
Apples(1kg)
$3.58NOK 34.46
$2.61MX$45.62
37.16%
Banana(1kg)
$2.39NOK 23.06
$1.44MX$25.15
65.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.39NOK 32.67
$1.96MX$34.31
72.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.98NOK 47.97
$2.09MX$36.62
138.28%
Potato(1kg)
$2.56NOK 24.69
$1.85MX$32.37
38.38%
Onion(1kg)
$2.51NOK 24.15
$2.17MX$37.90
15.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.56NOK 24.70
$1.03MX$18.04
148.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.42NOK 23.31
$1.07MX$18.78
126.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.80NOK 152
$4.10MX$71.7
285.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.55NOK 150
$10.17MX$178
52.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.60NOK 25.00
$1.68MX$29.29
54.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62NOK 34.86
$2.53MX$44.17
43.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Moss
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.38NOK 42.19
$0.51MX$8.90
758.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$83.9NOK 808
$26.04MX$455
222.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.07NOK 97.0
$3.23MX$56.5
211.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.44NOK 13.89
$2.41MX$42.06
-40.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$42.42NOK 409
$3.23MX$56.5
1213.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.21NOK 21.33
$1.32MX$23.10
67.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5KNOK 351.7K
$29.7KMX$519.2K
22.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.0KNOK 366.2K
$23.7KMX$413.7K
60.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moss
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$292NOK 2,817
$82.0MX$1,434
256.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.23NOK 195
$22.95MX$401
-11.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.01NOK 453
$30.11MX$527
56.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Moss
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.53NOK 390
$52.0MX$909
-22.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$32.46NOK 313
$18.53MX$324
75.18%
Cinema Ticket
$15.93NOK 153
$4.98MX$87.0
219.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Moss
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$273NOK 2,628
$197MX$3,452
38.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,635NOK 35.0K
$5,336MX$93.3K
-31.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Moss
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.0NOK 944
$35.60MX$622
175.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.6NOK 632
$40.33MX$705
62.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103NOK 989
$78.8MX$1,377
30.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142NOK 1,365
$88.9MX$1,555
59.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Moss
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,221NOK 11.8K
$947MX$16.6K
28.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$870NOK 8,384
$474MX$8,288
83.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,816NOK 17.5K
$1,644MX$28.7K
10.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,406NOK 13.5K
$1,211MX$21.2K
16.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,106NOK 49.2K
$4,056MX$70.9K
25.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,990NOK 38.4K
$6,470MX$113.1K
-38.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Moss
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,419NOK 42.6K
$654MX$11.4K
575.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.05
11.42
-55.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Moss: July 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,221 in Moss versus $947 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 576% higher in Moss, 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 $101 in Moss versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $438 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
Moss vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Moss or Playa del Carmen?
Moss costs about 89% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Moss and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,557 per month in Moss and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Moss or 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.
How much does it cost to live in Moss compared to Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,372 in Moss and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Moss compared to Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 222% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Moss or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Moss at $2,372. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moss it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Moss or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,256 versus $2,372 in Moss. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Moss compared to 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.
Should I move to Moss or to Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Moss makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.