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: $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,218 in Frederiksberg.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,126 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,957 in Frederiksberg.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,980 in Playa del Carmen versus $5,695 in Frederiksberg.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 43% less than in Frederiksberg, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 5% below, Frederiksberg is 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Frederiksberg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87 MX$204
$23.45 DKK 151
-49.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90 MX$736
$117 DKK 754
-63.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.65 MX$183
$13.81 DKK 88.9
-22.88%
Cappuccino
$3.45 MX$59.2
$6.60 DKK 42.48
-47.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 MX$25.81
$4.45 DKK 28.68
-66.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 MX$16.28
$3.08 DKK 19.86
-69.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$51.9
$9.23 DKK 59.5
-67.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 MX$79.1
$7.86 DKK 50.7
-41.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Frederiksberg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.61
$1.99 DKK 12.84
-30.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$31.70
$3.99 DKK 25.68
-53.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.65
$2.51 DKK 16.17
-35.86%
Eggs
$2.59 MX$44.51
$5.77 DKK 37.17
-55.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.26 MX$142
$15.02 DKK 96.7
-45.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.37 MX$144
$11.14 DKK 71.7
-24.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.66 MX$183
$15.84 DKK 102
-32.70%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 MX$45.12
$3.19 DKK 20.56
-17.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 MX$25.53
$3.33 DKK 21.42
-55.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.92 MX$32.94
$3.64 DKK 23.41
-47.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$35.81
$5.46 DKK 35.19
-61.72%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$31.88
$2.28 DKK 14.70
-18.42%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.81
$1.88 DKK 12.10
20.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 MX$18.23
$2.35 DKK 15.11
-54.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.67
$1.68 DKK 10.85
-35.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15 MX$71.2
$10.23 DKK 65.9
-59.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.39 MX$178
$10.51 DKK 67.7
-1.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$29.59
$1.97 DKK 12.72
-12.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$44.85
$2.06 DKK 13.25
26.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Frederiksberg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.30
$3.75 DKK 24.14
-85.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.94 MX$462
$94.9 DKK 611
-71.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$53.7
$7.71 DKK 49.63
-59.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.51 MX$43.09
$1.66 DKK 10.70
51.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.15 MX$54.1
$107 DKK 689
-97.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$21.88
$2.30 DKK 14.81
-44.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K MX$521.3K
$48.3K DKK 311.1K
-37.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K MX$404.5K
$48.9K DKK 314.8K
-51.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Frederiksberg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 MX$1,425
$198 DKK 1,277
-58.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71 MX$390
$19.21 DKK 124
18.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46 MX$506
$41.80 DKK 269
-29.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Frederiksberg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 MX$875
$40.70 DKK 262
25.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33 MX$315
$29.72 DKK 191
-38.32%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93 MX$84.5
$18.26 DKK 118
-73.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Frederiksberg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,386
$598 DKK 3,852
-67.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,280 MX$90.6K
$5,885 DKK 37.9K
-10.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Frederiksberg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90 MX$633
$129 DKK 834
-71.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89 MX$685
$43.72 DKK 282
-8.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.0 MX$1,373
$124 DKK 796
-35.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5 MX$1,536
$193 DKK 1,243
-53.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Frederiksberg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$956 MX$16.4K
$1,930 DKK 12.4K
-50.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$477 MX$8,189
$711 DKK 4,580
-32.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,646 MX$28.3K
$2,556 DKK 16.5K
-35.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,225 MX$21.0K
$2,181 DKK 14.0K
-43.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,918 MX$67.2K
$8,207 DKK 52.9K
-52.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,459 MX$110.9K
$5,394 DKK 34.7K
19.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Frederiksberg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$667 MX$11.4K
$6,123 DKK 39.4K
-89.11%
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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Frederiksberg: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $956 in Playa del Carmen and $1,930 in Frederiksberg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Frederiksberg pays 818% 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 $117 in Frederiksberg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 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 Frederiksberg?
Playa del Carmen and Frederiksberg differ by about 75% in total monthly costs ($1,271 vs $2,218 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 818% 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: $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,930 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 $117 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 $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,218 in Frederiksberg – a 75% 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 $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,218 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 75% less than in Frederiksberg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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