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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,988 in Frederiksberg.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,279 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,322 in Frederiksberg.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,292 in Playa del Carmen versus $5,656 in Frederiksberg.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 58% less than in Frederiksberg, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 7% below, Frederiksberg is 118% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Frederiksberg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60 MX$199
$22.12 DKK 144
-47.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11 MX$809
$124 DKK 806
-61.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.88 MX$204
$14.17 DKK 92.3
-16.16%
Cappuccino
$3.98 MX$68.2
$7.50 DKK 48.87
-46.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 MX$24.49
$4.37 DKK 28.44
-67.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MX$14.16
$3.49 DKK 22.71
-76.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 MX$54.7
$9.20 DKK 60.0
-65.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79 MX$117
$7.69 DKK 50.1
-11.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Frederiksberg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 MX$28.76
$2.13 DKK 13.85
-21.13%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$37.71
$4.04 DKK 26.29
-45.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 MX$29.32
$2.48 DKK 16.16
-31.05%
Eggs
$2.74 MX$47.05
$5.48 DKK 35.73
-50.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.58 MX$164
$15.68 DKK 102
-38.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.01 MX$155
$11.87 DKK 77.3
-24.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.81 MX$220
$18.72 DKK 122
-31.57%
Apples (1kg)
$2.89 MX$49.58
$3.30 DKK 21.48
-12.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$25.70
$3.64 DKK 23.70
-58.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 MX$36.87
$3.87 DKK 25.21
-44.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.79
$5.50 DKK 35.83
-58.91%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 MX$34.00
$2.30 DKK 14.96
-13.91%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.15
$2.08 DKK 13.55
-4.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.23 MX$21.18
$2.20 DKK 14.33
-44.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$20.54
$1.48 DKK 9.62
-18.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55 MX$78.1
$9.78 DKK 63.7
-53.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.37 MX$178
$10.59 DKK 69.0
-2.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.79
$2.06 DKK 13.43
-21.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$49.44
$2.40 DKK 15.64
20.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Frederiksberg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MX$10.30
$3.63 DKK 23.67
-83.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.80 MX$494
$59.7 DKK 389
-51.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$92.5
$6.20 DKK 40.36
-13.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.73 MX$64.0
$1.65 DKK 10.75
126.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.77 MX$99.0
$63.2 DKK 412
-90.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$26.37
$2.57 DKK 16.77
-40.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K MX$387.0K
$52.8K DKK 343.7K
-57.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K MX$447.3K
$53.9K DKK 351.4K
-51.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Frederiksberg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.4 MX$1,569
$190 DKK 1,241
-52.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20 MX$433
$15.75 DKK 103
60.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24 MX$536
$38.59 DKK 251
-19.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Frederiksberg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 MX$1,154
$88.7 DKK 578
-24.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11 MX$500
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 MX$83.5
$20.60 DKK 134
-76.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Frederiksberg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$224 MX$3,839
$772 DKK 5,029
-71.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,229 MX$72.6K
$6,263 DKK 40.8K
-32.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Frederiksberg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10 MX$808
$120 DKK 779
-60.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29 MX$760
$50.6 DKK 330
-12.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.1 MX$1,375
$134 DKK 871
-40.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7 MX$1,591
$194 DKK 1,264
-52.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Frederiksberg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,063 MX$18.2K
$1,963 DKK 12.8K
-45.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$390 MX$6,698
$1,418 DKK 9,240
-72.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,149 MX$36.9K
$2,740 DKK 17.9K
-21.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,272 MX$21.8K
$2,179 DKK 14.2K
-41.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,001 MX$68.7K
$8,203 DKK 53.4K
-51.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,502 MX$111.6K
$5,363 DKK 34.9K
21.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Frederiksberg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$758 MX$13.0K
$5,978 DKK 38.9K
-87.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
3.81
200.52%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Last update for Frederiksberg: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen and $1,963 in Frederiksberg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Frederiksberg pays 689% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $124 in Frederiksberg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $276 vs $411 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

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 Frederiksberg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and in Frederiksberg?
Playa del Carmen and Frederiksberg differ by about 136% in total monthly costs ($1,266 vs $2,988 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 689% lower in Frederiksberg. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Frederiksberg?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,963 in Frederiksberg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $124 in Frederiksberg. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Frederiksberg?
All in, you'll spend $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,988 in Frederiksberg – a 136% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,988 in Frederiksberg, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Frederiksberg. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Frederiksberg?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Playa del Carmen or Frederiksberg safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Frederiksberg are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Playa del Carmen or Frederiksberg?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 136% less than in Frederiksberg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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