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