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 $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $252 in Bakkafjordur, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $430 in Bakkafjordur, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $608 in Bakkafjordur, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 411% more than Bakkafjordur, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Bakkafjordur are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 4% lower, Bakkafjordur 81% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.94 MX$208

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.75 MX$744

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.59 MX$184

Cappuccino

$3.62 MX$63.0

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

$1.47 MX$25.54

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 MX$16.41

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 MX$53.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 MX$77.6

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.80

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.79

$2.16 ISK 264

-12.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 MX$28.34

$2.21 ISK 271

-26.24%

Eggs

$2.64 MX$45.99

$4.87 ISK 596

-45.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.21 MX$143

$9.00 ISK 1,102

-8.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$144

$10.93 ISK 1,339

-24.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.10 MX$193

$11.04 ISK 1,352

0.54%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 MX$46.14

$2.17 ISK 266

22.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$26.11

$2.16 ISK 264

-30.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.59

$2.23 ISK 273

-10.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.13

$2.22 ISK 272

-6.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 MX$31.11

$2.17 ISK 266

-17.51%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$37.87

$2.16 ISK 265

0.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MX$18.73

$0.98 ISK 120

10.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 MX$18.04

$2.02 ISK 248

-48.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.97 MX$69.1

Wine (Bottle)

$10.20 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.04

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 MX$43.46

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 MX$9.02

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.97 MX$469

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 MX$54.7

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.80

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 MX$53.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 MX$22.16

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

$30.9K MX$537.3K

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

$23.3K MX$405.7K

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

$82.0 MX$1,427

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

$22.45 MX$391

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.66 MX$516

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 MX$903

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$325

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 MX$86.5

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

$198 MX$3,442

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,273 MX$91.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.34 MX$632

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.05 MX$697

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 MX$1,390

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,547

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$963 MX$16.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MX$8,086

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,596 MX$27.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 MX$21.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,942 MX$68.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,448 MX$112.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$720 MX$12.5K

$5,782 ISK 708.1K

-87.54%

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Bakkafjordur: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 703% 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 411% 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 $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $378 in Bakkafjordur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $252 in Bakkafjordur. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 1% 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 $252, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. 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 $252 versus $1,287 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.