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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $243 in Bakkafjordur, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,126 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $415 in Bakkafjordur, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,980 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $586 in Bakkafjordur, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 422% more than Bakkafjordur, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Bakkafjordur are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Bakkafjordur 82% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.87 MX$204

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.90 MX$736

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.65 MX$183

Cappuccino

$3.45 MX$59.2

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 MX$25.81

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 MX$16.28

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 MX$51.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 MX$79.1

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.61

White Bread (500g)

$1.85 MX$31.70

$2.26 ISK 281

-18.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 MX$27.65

$2.23 ISK 278

-27.80%

Eggs

$2.59 MX$44.51

$4.82 ISK 600

-46.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 MX$142

$8.68 ISK 1,081

-4.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.37 MX$144

$11.15 ISK 1,389

-24.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.66 MX$183

$10.92 ISK 1,360

-2.38%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 MX$45.12

$2.23 ISK 278

17.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 MX$25.53

$2.18 ISK 271

-31.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 MX$32.94

$2.25 ISK 280

-14.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$35.81

$2.16 ISK 269

-3.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$31.88

$2.22 ISK 276

-16.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.81

$2.23 ISK 277

1.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 MX$18.23

$0.98 ISK 121

8.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.67

$2.02 ISK 252

-46.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.15 MX$71.2

Wine (Bottle)

$10.39 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 MX$29.59

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$44.85

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.30

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.94 MX$462

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$53.7

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.51 MX$43.09

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 MX$54.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 MX$21.88

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.4K MX$521.3K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.6K MX$404.5K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.0 MX$1,425

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.71 MX$390

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.46 MX$506

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.0 MX$875

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.33 MX$315

Cinema Ticket

$4.93 MX$84.5

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$197 MX$3,386

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,280 MX$90.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.90 MX$633

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.89 MX$685

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.0 MX$1,373

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.5 MX$1,536

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$956 MX$16.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$477 MX$8,189

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,646 MX$28.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,225 MX$21.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,918 MX$67.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,459 MX$110.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$667 MX$11.4K

$5,815 ISK 724.0K

-88.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Last update for Bakkafjordur: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 772% higher in Bakkafjordur, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

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

Playa del Carmen vs Bakkafjordur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen costs about 422% more than Bakkafjordur, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,906 per month in Playa del Carmen and $365 in Bakkafjordur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,271 in Playa del Carmen and $243 in Bakkafjordur. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 0% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bakkafjordur, where all-in costs run around $243, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Bakkafjordur it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bakkafjordur costs $243 versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Bakkafjordur. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.