😐A single person spends $2,311 per month in Moss vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,496 per month in Moss vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,681 per month in Moss vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Moss costs about 78% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Moss sits 72% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Moss
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.76NOK 174
$11.73MX$203
59.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.1NOK 920
$41.62MX$720
137.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.20NOK 123
$10.64MX$184
24.06%
Cappuccino
$3.89NOK 36.15
$3.52MX$60.9
10.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18NOK 29.57
$1.51MX$26.12
110.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60NOK 24.15
$0.97MX$16.84
168.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.65NOK 61.8
$2.95MX$51.0
125.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.24NOK 76.5
$4.45MX$77.0
85.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Moss
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.13NOK 19.75
$1.38MX$23.93
54.35%
White Bread(500g)
$3.42NOK 31.76
$1.89MX$32.72
80.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.46NOK 32.18
$1.64MX$28.32
110.98%
Eggs
$3.42NOK 31.80
$2.51MX$43.34
36.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.26NOK 123
$8.34MX$144
58.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.20NOK 113
$8.34MX$144
46.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.12NOK 252
$10.73MX$186
152.75%
Apples(1kg)
$3.42NOK 31.74
$2.60MX$45.04
31.54%
Banana(1kg)
$2.41NOK 22.37
$1.46MX$25.20
65.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.48NOK 32.33
$1.90MX$32.87
83.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.11NOK 47.48
$2.08MX$35.91
145.67%
Potato(1kg)
$2.53NOK 23.51
$1.78MX$30.71
42.13%
Onion(1kg)
$2.61NOK 24.20
$2.19MX$37.80
19.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.57NOK 23.91
$1.04MX$17.99
147.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.30NOK 21.38
$1.08MX$18.62
112.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.97NOK 148
$4.08MX$70.6
291.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.14NOK 150
$10.32MX$178
56.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.60NOK 24.18
$1.71MX$29.61
52.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63NOK 33.74
$2.58MX$44.54
40.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Moss
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.37NOK 40.62
$0.51MX$8.81
756.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$83.3NOK 774
$26.46MX$458
214.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.97NOK 92.7
$3.26MX$56.4
205.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.44NOK 13.34
$2.49MX$43.09
-42.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$42.46NOK 394
$3.25MX$56.2
1206.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.24NOK 20.84
$1.31MX$22.61
70.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.9KNOK 342.4K
$30.3KMX$523.7K
21.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.6KNOK 348.8K
$23.4KMX$405.3K
60.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moss
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$284NOK 2,634
$82.9MX$1,433
242.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.56NOK 191
$22.22MX$384
-7.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.71NOK 434
$29.34MX$507
59.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Moss
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.48NOK 376
$51.6MX$893
-21.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$32.72NOK 304
$18.32MX$317
78.60%
Cinema Ticket
$15.90NOK 148
$5.07MX$87.6
213.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Moss
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$264NOK 2,454
$201MX$3,473
31.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,690NOK 34.3K
$5,212MX$90.1K
-29.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Moss
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.2NOK 903
$36.92MX$639
163.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.2NOK 605
$39.79MX$688
63.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100NOK 931
$78.5MX$1,357
27.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144NOK 1,342
$87.1MX$1,506
65.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Moss
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,231NOK 11.4K
$973MX$16.8K
26.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$847NOK 7,865
$468MX$8,090
81.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,809NOK 16.8K
$1,641MX$28.4K
10.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,411NOK 13.1K
$1,221MX$21.1K
15.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,460NOK 50.7K
$3,946MX$68.3K
38.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,095NOK 38.0K
$6,498MX$112.4K
-36.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Moss
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,547NOK 42.2K
$664MX$11.5K
584.80%
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: May 30, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,231 in Moss 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 585% 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 $99.0 in Moss versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $439 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 78% 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,466 per month in Moss and $1,945 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 $2,311 in Moss and $1,297 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 215% 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 Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Moss at $2,311. 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 $1,297 versus $2,311 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 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.