🙂A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,708 in Horten, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,851 in Horten, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,993 in Horten, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 53% cheaper than Horten, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 7% below the global median, while Horten is 98% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Horten
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$199
$21.21NOK 200
-45.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$809
$130NOK 1,223
-63.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$204
$16.32NOK 154
-27.21%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.2
$6.11NOK 57.6
-34.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.49
$3.02NOK 28.49
-52.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.16
$3.32NOK 31.27
-75.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$54.7
$11.81NOK 111
-72.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$12.84NOK 121
-47.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Horten
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.76
$2.31NOK 21.74
-27.27%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.71
$3.50NOK 32.93
-37.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.32
$4.05NOK 38.14
-57.78%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.05
$5.31NOK 50.0
-48.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$164
$7.79NOK 73.4
22.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$15.74NOK 148
-42.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$220
$11.97NOK 113
7.02%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.58
$3.46NOK 32.62
-16.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.70
$2.72NOK 25.64
-44.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.87
$3.54NOK 33.30
-39.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.79
$5.95NOK 56.0
-62.02%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.00
$2.78NOK 26.23
-28.78%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.15
$2.88NOK 27.09
-30.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.18
$2.22NOK 20.90
-44.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.54
$2.42NOK 22.77
-50.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.1
$19.42NOK 183
-76.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$178
$16.98NOK 160
-38.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.79
$3.64NOK 34.32
-55.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.44
$4.45NOK 41.89
-35.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Horten
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.30
$4.77NOK 44.89
-87.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$494
$87.4NOK 824
-67.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.5
$12.17NOK 115
-55.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.0
$1.93NOK 18.19
93.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.0
$72.2NOK 680
-92.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.37
$2.28NOK 21.48
-32.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$387.0K
$49.5KNOK 466.0K
-54.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$447.3K
$46.1KNOK 434.0K
-43.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Horten
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,569
$420NOK 3,959
-78.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$433
$33.22NOK 313
-24.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$536
$55.8NOK 525
-43.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Horten
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,154
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$500
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.5
$18.97NOK 179
-74.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Horten
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,839
$130NOK 1,224
72.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.6K
$15.8KNOK 149.1K
-73.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Horten
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$808
$105NOK 985
-54.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$760
$42.77NOK 403
3.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,375
$60.1NOK 566
33.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,591
$158NOK 1,484
-41.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Horten
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.2K
$1,145NOK 10.8K
-7.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,698
$1,032NOK 9,721
-62.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$36.9K
$1,793NOK 16.9K
19.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.8K
$1,288NOK 12.1K
-1.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$68.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$111.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Horten
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.0K
-
-
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 Horten: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,145 in Horten. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $130 in Horten. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $424 – 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 Horten: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and in Horten compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, $2,708 in Horten – roughly 114% apart. Horten costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Horten?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $4,062 in Horten. 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 Horten?
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 is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Horten?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $2,708 in Horten. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Horten?
Public transport costs about 204% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
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 Horten at $2,708. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Horten it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Horten?
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 $2,708 in Horten. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Playa del Carmen or Horten 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 Horten?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Horten makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared