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: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,142 in Frederiksberg.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,947 in Frederiksberg.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $5,752 in Frederiksberg.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 40% less than in Frederiksberg, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 4% below, Frederiksberg is 60% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Frederiksberg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94 MX$209
$22.97 DKK 147
-48.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$748
$118 DKK 750
-63.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 MX$185
$14.15 DKK 90.3
-25.16%
Cappuccino
$3.62 MX$63.4
$6.95 DKK 44.35
-47.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MX$25.69
$4.30 DKK 27.46
-65.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 MX$16.51
$3.18 DKK 20.30
-70.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$54.1
$9.53 DKK 60.8
-67.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 MX$78.0
$7.70 DKK 49.14
-42.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Frederiksberg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
$2.08 DKK 13.24
-31.25%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.97
$4.11 DKK 26.23
-54.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 MX$28.50
$2.60 DKK 16.59
-37.31%
Eggs
$2.64 MX$46.26
$5.80 DKK 37.01
-54.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 MX$144
$14.87 DKK 94.9
-44.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$145
$11.14 DKK 71.1
-25.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.10 MX$194
$16.08 DKK 103
-30.97%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 MX$46.40
$3.15 DKK 20.07
-15.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$26.26
$3.34 DKK 21.29
-55.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.79
$3.53 DKK 22.53
-43.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.33
$5.71 DKK 36.42
-63.57%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 MX$31.29
$2.27 DKK 14.45
-21.15%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$38.09
$1.88 DKK 12.01
15.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MX$18.84
$2.37 DKK 15.12
-54.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 MX$18.15
$1.66 DKK 10.62
-37.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 MX$69.5
$10.19 DKK 65.0
-61.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.20 MX$179
$10.37 DKK 66.1
-1.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 MX$30.22
$1.94 DKK 12.35
-10.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 MX$43.71
$2.06 DKK 13.12
21.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Frederiksberg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.07
$3.66 DKK 23.34
-85.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.97 MX$472
$91.7 DKK 585
-70.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$55.0
$7.71 DKK 49.17
-59.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$42.04
$1.75 DKK 11.16
37.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 MX$54.0
$110 DKK 702
-97.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$22.28
$2.19 DKK 13.99
-42.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K MX$540.4K
$48.1K DKK 307.0K
-35.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$408.0K
$48.4K DKK 308.6K
-51.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Frederiksberg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,435
$198 DKK 1,263
-58.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45 MX$393
$19.07 DKK 122
17.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66 MX$519
$41.62 DKK 266
-28.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Frederiksberg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.9 MX$908
$40.79 DKK 260
27.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67 MX$327
$29.51 DKK 188
-36.73%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 MX$87.0
$18.39 DKK 117
-72.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Frederiksberg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 MX$3,462
$588 DKK 3,754
-66.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,273 MX$92.3K
$5,796 DKK 37.0K
-9.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Frederiksberg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34 MX$636
$128 DKK 816
-71.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05 MX$701
$44.01 DKK 281
-9.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 MX$1,398
$120 DKK 764
-33.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,555
$200 DKK 1,273
-55.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Frederiksberg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.9K
$1,941 DKK 12.4K
-50.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,133
$699 DKK 4,462
-33.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,596 MX$27.9K
$2,551 DKK 16.3K
-37.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 MX$21.2K
$2,137 DKK 13.6K
-43.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,942 MX$69.0K
$8,324 DKK 53.1K
-52.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,448 MX$112.8K
$5,469 DKK 34.9K
17.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Frederiksberg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$720 MX$12.6K
$5,083 DKK 32.4K
-85.83%
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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Frederiksberg: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $1,941 in Frederiksberg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Frederiksberg pays 606% 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: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $118 in Frederiksberg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $397 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 Frederiksberg?
Playa del Carmen and Frederiksberg differ by about 66% in total monthly costs ($1,287 vs $2,142 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, Frederiksberg earns 606% less. 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 Frederiksberg?
Rent for a central apartment: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,941 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 $43.00 versus $118 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 $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,142 in Frederiksberg – a 66% 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 $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,142 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 66% less than in Frederiksberg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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