🙂A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,746 in Gjovik, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,283 in Gjovik, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,820 in Gjovik, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 54% cheaper than Gjovik, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 7% below the global median, while Gjovik is 101% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Gjovik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$21.79NOK 205
-46.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$812
$131NOK 1,232
-63.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$16.06NOK 151
-26.03%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.6
$4.34NOK 40.87
-8.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.60
$3.18NOK 29.97
-55.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.22
$3.19NOK 30.04
-74.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$55.0
$10.58NOK 99.7
-69.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$8.36NOK 78.7
-18.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Gjovik
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.89
$2.65NOK 24.97
-36.60%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.88
$4.13NOK 38.92
-46.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.45
$4.82NOK 45.41
-64.52%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.26
$6.03NOK 56.8
-54.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
$15.13NOK 143
-36.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$15.76NOK 149
-42.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
$30.16NOK 284
-57.53%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.81
$3.48NOK 32.78
-16.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.81
$2.66NOK 25.06
-43.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.03
$3.65NOK 34.42
-41.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.96
$5.91NOK 55.7
-61.76%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.15
$2.71NOK 25.54
-26.94%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.30
$2.99NOK 28.17
-33.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.28
$3.10NOK 29.20
-60.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.63
$2.51NOK 23.63
-52.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.5
$19.48NOK 184
-76.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
$16.57NOK 156
-37.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.91
$3.52NOK 33.18
-53.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.67
$4.33NOK 40.78
-33.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Gjovik
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.35
$2.93NOK 27.58
-79.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$497
$64.5NOK 608
-55.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.9
$12.33NOK 116
-56.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.3
$1.83NOK 17.20
103.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.5
$70.5NOK 664
-91.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.48
$2.35NOK 22.18
-34.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.8K
$48.8KNOK 459.9K
-53.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$449.3K
$46.2KNOK 435.1K
-43.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Gjovik
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,576
$283NOK 2,663
-67.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$435
$33.27NOK 314
-24.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$539
$56.2NOK 530
-44.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Gjovik
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,159
$43.47NOK 410
54.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$502
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.8
$15.21NOK 143
-68.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Gjovik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,856
$248NOK 2,333
-9.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.9K
$16.0KNOK 150.8K
-73.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Gjovik
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$812
$104NOK 984
-54.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$764
$62.5NOK 589
-29.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,381
$135NOK 1,275
-40.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,598
$160NOK 1,507
-42.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Gjovik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
$1,659NOK 15.6K
-35.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,728
$1,079NOK 10.2K
-63.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.1K
$2,149NOK 20.2K
0.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$69.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$112.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Gjovik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.1K
$3,786NOK 35.7K
-79.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
4.98
129.92%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Last update for Gjovik: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,659 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 399% 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $131 in Gjovik. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $519 – 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 in Gjovik compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, $2,746 in Gjovik – roughly 117% 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 $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $4,118 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 88% 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen and $131 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 $1,266, than in Gjovik at $2,746. 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 $1,266 in Playa del Carmen to $2,746 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared