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: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,134 in Frederiksberg.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,125 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,880 in Frederiksberg.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,990 in Playa del Carmen versus $5,625 in Frederiksberg.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 41% less than in Frederiksberg, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 5% below, Frederiksberg is 60% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Frederiksberg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72 MX$203
$22.92 DKK 148
-48.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89 MX$725
$114 DKK 739
-63.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 MX$182
$13.84 DKK 89.6
-24.06%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.0
$6.92 DKK 44.78
-48.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.10
$4.40 DKK 28.48
-65.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 MX$15.83
$3.09 DKK 19.99
-70.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.96 MX$51.2
$9.14 DKK 59.2
-67.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41 MX$76.3
$7.67 DKK 49.63
-42.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Frederiksberg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 MX$24.16
$1.97 DKK 12.75
-28.93%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.60
$4.02 DKK 26.06
-53.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 MX$26.97
$2.59 DKK 16.74
-39.77%
Eggs
$2.61 MX$45.14
$5.70 DKK 36.88
-54.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.32 MX$144
$14.77 DKK 95.6
-43.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.35 MX$145
$11.18 DKK 72.4
-25.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 MX$188
$16.22 DKK 105
-33.05%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 MX$46.93
$3.19 DKK 20.64
-15.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$26.04
$3.24 DKK 21.00
-53.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.41
$3.65 DKK 23.65
-48.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.89
$5.48 DKK 35.51
-60.04%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$32.14
$2.35 DKK 15.19
-20.85%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 MX$38.59
$1.83 DKK 11.87
21.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.48
$2.35 DKK 15.20
-54.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.79
$1.67 DKK 10.82
-34.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MX$72.4
$10.29 DKK 66.6
-59.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.43 MX$180
$10.09 DKK 65.3
3.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 MX$28.68
$1.96 DKK 12.72
-15.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$45.19
$2.15 DKK 13.89
21.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Frederiksberg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.37
$3.80 DKK 24.62
-85.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.16 MX$453
$93.5 DKK 606
-72.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 MX$53.3
$7.85 DKK 50.8
-60.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$41.61
$1.69 DKK 10.91
42.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$54.1
$108 DKK 701
-97.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.69
$2.19 DKK 14.17
-40.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K MX$515.7K
$48.6K DKK 314.5K
-38.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$403.5K
$48.5K DKK 314.1K
-51.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Frederiksberg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 MX$1,406
$202 DKK 1,309
-59.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56 MX$390
$19.44 DKK 126
16.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05 MX$520
$41.28 DKK 267
-27.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Frederiksberg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.9 MX$915
$41.41 DKK 268
27.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 MX$318
$29.90 DKK 194
-38.49%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92 MX$85.1
$18.26 DKK 118
-73.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Frederiksberg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,474
$607 DKK 3,932
-66.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,175 MX$89.5K
$5,796 DKK 37.5K
-10.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Frederiksberg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92 MX$622
$129 DKK 836
-72.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13 MX$694
$44.50 DKK 288
-9.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.7 MX$1,379
$121 DKK 781
-33.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5 MX$1,496
$198 DKK 1,283
-56.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Frederiksberg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$978 MX$16.9K
$1,964 DKK 12.7K
-50.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 MX$8,140
$705 DKK 4,565
-33.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,651 MX$28.6K
$2,600 DKK 16.8K
-36.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,203 MX$20.8K
$2,159 DKK 14.0K
-44.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,953 MX$68.4K
$8,145 DKK 52.7K
-51.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,607 MX$114.3K
$5,246 DKK 34.0K
25.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Frederiksberg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$677 MX$11.7K
$6,023 DKK 39.0K
-88.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
4.19
172.55%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Last update for Frederiksberg: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $978 in Playa del Carmen and $1,964 in Frederiksberg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Frederiksberg pays 790% 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: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $114 in Frederiksberg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $394 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 69% in total monthly costs ($1,260 vs $2,134 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 790% 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: $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,964 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 $42.00 versus $114 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 $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,134 in Frederiksberg – a 69% 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 $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,134 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 69% less than in Frederiksberg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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