🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,139 in Frederikssund.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,293 in Frederikssund.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,448 in Frederikssund.
🙂Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 40% less than in Frederikssund, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 4% below, Frederikssund is 60% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Frederikssund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$208
$23.48DKK 150
-49.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$744
$110DKK 702
-61.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$184
$13.87DKK 88.5
-23.65%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.0
$6.45DKK 41.16
-43.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.54
$3.99DKK 25.44
-63.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.41
$3.10DKK 19.78
-69.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$53.8
$8.44DKK 53.9
-63.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$77.6
$7.38DKK 47.08
-39.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Frederikssund
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.80
$2.12DKK 13.55
-32.55%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.79
$3.31DKK 21.09
-43.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.34
$2.35DKK 15.00
-30.64%
Eggs
$2.64MX$45.99
$5.06DKK 32.31
-47.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$143
$13.43DKK 85.7
-38.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$144
$10.62DKK 67.7
-21.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$193
$16.19DKK 103
-31.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.14
$3.07DKK 19.58
-13.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.11
$3.25DKK 20.73
-53.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.59
$3.48DKK 22.17
-42.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.13
$4.73DKK 30.19
-56.03%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.11
$2.19DKK 13.95
-18.26%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$37.87
$1.82DKK 11.63
19.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.73
$2.02DKK 12.90
-46.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.04
$1.46DKK 9.30
-28.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.1
$9.44DKK 60.2
-57.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$178
$9.55DKK 61.0
6.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.04
$1.81DKK 11.58
-4.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.46
$2.49DKK 15.90
0.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Frederikssund
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.02
$3.80DKK 24.24
-86.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$469
$76.1DKK 486
-64.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$54.7
$7.65DKK 48.79
-58.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.80
$2.15DKK 13.71
11.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$53.7
$76.2DKK 486
-95.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.16
$2.13DKK 13.56
-40.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$537.3K
$49.4KDKK 315.5K
-37.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$405.7K
$49.9KDKK 318.6K
-53.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Frederikssund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,427
$206DKK 1,315
-60.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$391
$18.26DKK 116
22.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$516
$41.52DKK 265
-28.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Frederikssund
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$903
$41.27DKK 263
25.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$325
$29.86DKK 191
-37.47%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$86.5
$18.85DKK 120
-73.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Frederikssund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,442
$519DKK 3,312
-61.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$91.7K
$5,919DKK 37.8K
-10.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Frederikssund
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$632
$103DKK 655
-64.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$697
$38.57DKK 246
3.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,390
$118DKK 752
-32.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,547
$192DKK 1,223
-53.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Frederikssund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.8K
$920DKK 5,870
4.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,086
$691DKK 4,407
-32.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.8K
$1,539DKK 9,818
3.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.0K
$1,186DKK 7,568
1.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$68.6K
$4,814DKK 30.7K
-18.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.2K
$3,486DKK 22.2K
84.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Frederikssund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.5K
$2,938DKK 18.7K
-75.48%
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 Frederikssund: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $920 in Frederikssund. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Frederikssund pays 308% 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 $110 in Frederikssund for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $367 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 Frederikssund: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Frederikssund?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 66% lower than in Frederikssund. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or Frederikssund?
On paper, Frederikssund earns 308% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen vs Frederikssund?
Rent for a central apartment: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $920 in Frederikssund. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Playa del Carmen vs Frederikssund?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 182% less than in Frederikssund. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and Frederikssund?
Childcare runs $198 in Playa del Carmen versus $519 in Frederikssund. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or Frederikssund?
At $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,139 in Frederikssund, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Frederikssund. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Frederikssund?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,287 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Frederikssund?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Frederikssund are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 66% less than in Frederikssund. 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