🙂A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,213 in Elverum, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,480 in Elverum, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,748 in Elverum, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 43% cheaper than Elverum, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Elverum is 66% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Elverum
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$210
$22.42NOK 216
-46.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$733
$102NOK 983
-59.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$189
$11.47NOK 111
-6.28%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$61.3
$4.43NOK 42.73
-20.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.41
$3.61NOK 34.80
-59.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.52
$2.90NOK 27.99
-69.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.7
$10.72NOK 103
-72.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$79.1
$8.08NOK 77.9
-44.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Elverum
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$25.12
$1.14NOK 10.99
25.44%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$32.23
$3.47NOK 33.43
-46.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.51
$3.93NOK 37.89
-60.05%
Eggs
$2.51MX$44.06
$1.84NOK 17.73
36.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$145
$7.04NOK 67.8
17.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$148
$12.22NOK 118
-31.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$187
$25.00NOK 241
-57.28%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.76
$1.03NOK 9.95
153.40%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.22
$2.99NOK 28.83
-51.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.41
$1.49NOK 14.36
31.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.74
$1.49NOK 14.42
40.27%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.47
$1.04NOK 10.03
77.88%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$38.02
$0.98NOK 9.49
121.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$18.09
$2.50NOK 24.10
-58.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.84
$2.43NOK 23.41
-55.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$72.0
$14.44NOK 139
-71.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$178
$17.70NOK 171
-42.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.38
$3.82NOK 36.86
-56.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$44.31
$4.73NOK 45.60
-46.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Elverum
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.93
$4.22NOK 40.72
-87.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$457
$73.0NOK 704
-64.35%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.7
$15.01NOK 145
-78.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$42.19
$2.19NOK 21.07
10.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.6
$90.2NOK 869
-96.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.17
$2.12NOK 20.42
-37.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$520.9K
$31.8KNOK 307.1K
-6.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$415.0K
$35.9KNOK 346.5K
-34.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Elverum
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,439
$102NOK 984
-19.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$403
$41.58NOK 401
-44.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$528
$65.6NOK 632
-54.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Elverum
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$912
$49.71NOK 479
4.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$325
$36.10NOK 348
-48.67%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$87.3
$12.32NOK 119
-59.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Elverum
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,463
$319NOK 3,080
-38.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$93.6K
$8,468NOK 81.7K
-36.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Elverum
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$624
$109NOK 1,054
-67.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$707
$49.19NOK 474
-18.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,381
$125NOK 1,209
-37.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,560
$129NOK 1,249
-31.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Elverum
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.6K
$1,226NOK 11.8K
-22.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,314
$884NOK 8,526
-46.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.8K
$1,832NOK 17.7K
-10.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.2K
$1,509NOK 14.5K
-19.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$71.1K
$5,711NOK 55.1K
-28.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$113.5K
$3,995NOK 38.5K
61.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Elverum
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.5K
$4,076NOK 39.3K
-83.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
4.32
164.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Last update for Elverum: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,226 in Elverum. 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 523% higher in Elverum, 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $102 in Elverum. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $371 – 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
Playa del Carmen vs Elverum: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Elverum cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Elverum is pricier by about 76%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,319 in Elverum. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $197 per month in Playa del Carmen and $319 in Elverum. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Elverum?
Groceries cost about 49% more in Elverum, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Elverum?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Elverum at $2,213. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Elverum it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Elverum more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Elverum?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Elverum makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared