Cost of Living Comparison Between Moss and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Moss and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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