🙂A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,761 in Haugesund, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,116 in Haugesund, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,470 in Haugesund, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 54% cheaper than Haugesund, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 7% below the global median, while Haugesund is 102% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Haugesund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$199
$22.21NOK 209
-47.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$809
$106NOK 997
-55.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$204
$14.60NOK 138
-18.63%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.2
$4.82NOK 45.36
-17.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.49
$5.07NOK 47.74
-71.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.16
$4.08NOK 38.44
-79.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$54.7
$11.98NOK 113
-73.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$10.51NOK 99.0
-35.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Haugesund
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.76
$2.30NOK 21.67
-26.96%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.71
$3.77NOK 35.49
-41.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.32
$3.47NOK 32.68
-50.72%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.05
$4.78NOK 45.02
-42.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$164
$11.86NOK 112
-19.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$15.36NOK 145
-41.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$220
$36.06NOK 340
-64.48%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.58
$3.12NOK 29.36
-7.37%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.70
$2.21NOK 20.82
-32.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.87
$3.55NOK 33.42
-39.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.79
$4.51NOK 42.44
-49.89%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.00
$2.46NOK 23.15
-19.51%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.15
$3.30NOK 31.11
-39.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.18
$3.02NOK 28.44
-59.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.54
$1.82NOK 17.16
-34.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.1
$17.20NOK 162
-73.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$178
$15.15NOK 143
-31.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.79
$3.65NOK 34.39
-55.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.44
$4.39NOK 41.36
-34.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Haugesund
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.30
$3.70NOK 34.85
-83.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$494
$69.3NOK 653
-58.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.5
$12.44NOK 117
-56.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.0
$1.93NOK 18.14
93.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.0
$58.1NOK 547
-90.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.37
$2.25NOK 21.19
-31.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$387.0K
$46.8KNOK 440.7K
-51.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$447.3K
$43.9KNOK 414.0K
-40.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Haugesund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,569
$292NOK 2,754
-68.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$433
$31.85NOK 300
-20.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$536
$59.0NOK 555
-47.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Haugesund
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,154
$50.2NOK 473
33.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$500
$38.12NOK 359
-23.64%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.5
$17.12NOK 161
-71.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Haugesund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,839
$244NOK 2,297
-8.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.6K
$3,068NOK 28.9K
37.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Haugesund
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$808
$100NOK 943
-52.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$760
$55.7NOK 525
-20.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,375
$88.1NOK 830
-9.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,591
$160NOK 1,509
-42.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Haugesund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.2K
$1,610NOK 15.2K
-34.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,698
$1,117NOK 10.5K
-65.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$36.9K
$2,183NOK 20.6K
-1.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.8K
$1,695NOK 16.0K
-24.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$68.7K
$6,357NOK 59.9K
-37.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$111.6K
$4,856NOK 45.7K
33.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Haugesund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.0K
$4,092NOK 38.5K
-81.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
5.2
120.19%
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 Haugesund: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,610 in Haugesund. 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 440% higher in Haugesund, 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 $106 in Haugesund. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $485 – 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 Haugesund: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Haugesund?
Haugesund costs about 118% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen and in Haugesund?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $4,142 in Haugesund. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Haugesund?
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.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or in Haugesund?
Groceries cost about 76% more in Haugesund, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Haugesund?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen and $106 in Haugesund. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or in Haugesund?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,266, than in Haugesund at $2,761. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Haugesund it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Haugesund?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,266 versus $2,761 in Haugesund. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Haugesund?
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.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or to Haugesund?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Haugesund makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared