😐A single person spends $2,530 per month in Moss vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,841 per month in Moss vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,152 per month in Moss vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Moss costs about 96% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Moss sits 84% 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
$21.05NOK 196
$11.71MX$198
79.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.0NOK 753
$46.59MX$787
73.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.00NOK 130
$11.65MX$197
20.17%
Cappuccino
$5.05NOK 46.93
$4.09MX$69.2
23.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34NOK 31.02
$1.37MX$23.23
143.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70NOK 25.12
$0.83MX$14.09
225.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.99NOK 65.0
$3.35MX$56.7
108.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45NOK 78.6
$6.91MX$117
22.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Moss
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.46NOK 22.84
$1.73MX$29.19
42.20%
White Bread(500g)
$3.82NOK 35.50
$2.26MX$38.20
69.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.76NOK 35.00
$1.77MX$29.90
112.43%
Eggs
$3.51NOK 32.68
$2.73MX$46.18
28.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.30NOK 124
$9.18MX$155
44.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.21NOK 123
$8.92MX$151
48.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.65NOK 257
$12.60MX$213
119.44%
Apples(1kg)
$3.45NOK 32.05
$3.02MX$51.1
14.24%
Banana(1kg)
$2.52NOK 23.46
$1.57MX$26.54
60.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.99NOK 27.84
$2.13MX$35.92
40.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.95NOK 55.3
$2.26MX$38.27
163.27%
Potato(1kg)
$2.29NOK 21.25
$2.00MX$33.87
14.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.54NOK 23.66
$2.06MX$34.89
23.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.62NOK 24.35
$1.18MX$19.94
122.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52NOK 23.41
$1.20MX$20.35
110.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.26NOK 142
$4.63MX$78.3
229.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.05NOK 149
$10.69MX$181
50.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.70NOK 25.06
$1.62MX$27.37
66.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85NOK 35.78
$2.88MX$48.69
33.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Moss
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.75NOK 44.13
$0.57MX$9.69
733.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$88.8NOK 826
$29.83MX$504
197.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.74NOK 99.9
$5.45MX$92.1
97.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.85NOK 17.20
$3.70MX$62.6
-50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$47.21NOK 439
$5.98MX$101
689.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.33NOK 21.67
$1.55MX$26.25
50.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.1KNOK 400.8K
$22.3KMX$377.3K
93.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.7KNOK 387.8K
$25.9KMX$438.5K
60.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moss
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$309NOK 2,869
$89.1MX$1,506
246.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.42NOK 311
$25.04MX$423
33.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.6NOK 526
$31.50MX$532
79.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Moss
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.47NOK 376
$67.8MX$1,145
-40.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.40NOK 329
$28.92MX$489
22.41%
Cinema Ticket
$19.07NOK 177
$5.05MX$85.3
277.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Moss
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$253NOK 2,350
$225MX$3,802
12.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,762NOK 35.0K
$4,222MX$71.4K
-10.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Moss
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101NOK 940
$47.44MX$802
113.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.2NOK 569
$44.98MX$760
35.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108NOK 1,002
$82.0MX$1,386
31.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142NOK 1,320
$92.1MX$1,556
54.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Moss
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,245NOK 11.6K
$1,069MX$18.1K
16.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$955NOK 8,879
$405MX$6,850
135.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,158NOK 20.1K
$1,935MX$32.7K
11.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,626NOK 15.1K
$1,301MX$22.0K
24.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,271NOK 49.0K
$3,995MX$67.5K
31.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,133NOK 38.4K
$6,626MX$112.0K
-37.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Moss
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,506NOK 41.9K
$749MX$12.7K
501.82%
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 Moss: August 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,245 in Moss versus $1,069 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 502% 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 $81.0 in Moss versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $461 vs $277 – 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 96% 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 $3,796 per month in Moss and $1,940 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 $2,530 in Moss and $1,293 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 198% 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 $1,293, than in Moss at $2,530. 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 $1,293 versus $2,530 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.