Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Gjovik Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Gjovik

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,349 in Gjovik, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,126 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,717 in Gjovik, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,980 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,085 in Gjovik, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 46% cheaper than Gjovik, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 5% below the global median, while Gjovik is 75% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Gjovik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87 MX$204
$24.86 NOK 236
-52.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90 MX$736
$121 NOK 1,146
-64.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.65 MX$183
$15.46 NOK 147
-31.11%
Cappuccino
$3.45 MX$59.2
$4.13 NOK 39.23
-16.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 MX$25.81
$4.16 NOK 39.52
-63.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 MX$16.28
$3.07 NOK 29.16
-69.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$51.9
$9.86 NOK 93.6
-69.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 MX$79.1
$7.98 NOK 75.8
-42.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Gjovik
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.61
$2.36 NOK 22.37
-41.53%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$31.70
$4.03 NOK 38.28
-54.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.65
$3.66 NOK 34.70
-56.01%
Eggs
$2.59 MX$44.51
$4.93 NOK 46.84
-47.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.26 MX$142
$13.31 NOK 126
-37.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.37 MX$144
$16.14 NOK 153
-48.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.66 MX$183
$30.77 NOK 292
-65.36%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 MX$45.12
$3.56 NOK 33.74
-26.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 MX$25.53
$2.51 NOK 23.79
-40.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.92 MX$32.94
$3.32 NOK 31.55
-42.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$35.81
$5.10 NOK 48.44
-59.02%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$31.88
$2.42 NOK 22.97
-23.14%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.81
$2.60 NOK 24.64
-13.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 MX$18.23
$2.73 NOK 25.94
-61.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.67
$2.31 NOK 21.92
-52.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15 MX$71.2
$17.30 NOK 164
-76.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.39 MX$178
$18.58 NOK 176
-44.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$29.59
$3.35 NOK 31.77
-48.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$44.85
$4.23 NOK 40.14
-38.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Gjovik
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.30
$2.61 NOK 24.81
-79.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.94 MX$462
$61.2 NOK 581
-56.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$53.7
$10.00 NOK 94.9
-68.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.51 MX$43.09
$1.43 NOK 13.62
75.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.15 MX$54.1
$42.05 NOK 399
-92.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$21.88
$2.22 NOK 21.06
-42.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K MX$521.3K
$35.8K NOK 339.9K
-15.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K MX$404.5K
$42.9K NOK 406.9K
-45.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Gjovik
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 MX$1,425
$302 NOK 2,868
-72.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71 MX$390
$31.01 NOK 294
-26.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46 MX$506
$55.9 NOK 530
-47.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Gjovik
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 MX$875
$35.31 NOK 335
44.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33 MX$315
$35.87 NOK 340
-48.90%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93 MX$84.5
$18.13 NOK 172
-72.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Gjovik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,386
$267 NOK 2,532
-26.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,280 MX$90.6K
$14.7K NOK 139.3K
-64.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Gjovik
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90 MX$633
$103 NOK 980
-64.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89 MX$685
$65.9 NOK 626
-39.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.0 MX$1,373
$124 NOK 1,179
-35.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5 MX$1,536
$165 NOK 1,568
-45.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Gjovik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$956 MX$16.4K
$1,605 NOK 15.2K
-40.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$477 MX$8,189
$708 NOK 6,721
-32.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,646 MX$28.3K
$1,810 NOK 17.2K
-9.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,225 MX$21.0K
$1,217 NOK 11.6K
0.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,918 MX$67.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,459 MX$110.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Gjovik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$667 MX$11.4K
$3,729 NOK 35.4K
-82.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
5.08
124.80%

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 Gjovik: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,605 in Gjovik. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 459% higher in Gjovik, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $121 in Gjovik. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 vs $496 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Gjovik: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and Gjovik compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, $2,349 in Gjovik – roughly 85% apart. Gjovik costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Gjovik?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,906 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,524 in Gjovik. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Playa del Carmen and Gjovik?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 99% more in Gjovik, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen and $121 in Gjovik. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,271, than in Gjovik at $2,349. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gjovik it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Gjovik?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,271 in Playa del Carmen to $2,349 in Gjovik. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Playa del Carmen or Gjovik safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Gjovik?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Gjovik makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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