Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Kongsberg

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,733 in Kongsberg, rent and utilities included – about $18,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Kongsberg, Norway
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Kongsberg
🇳🇴 Norway
$2,733
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Kongsberg

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Kongsberg actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,204 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,733 in Kongsberg, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Kongsberg $2,733

A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,003 in Kongsberg, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Kongsberg $4,003

A family of three spends $2,959 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,273 in Kongsberg, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,959
  • Kongsberg $5,273

Playa del Carmen is about 56% cheaper than Kongsberg, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Playa del Carmen sits 12% below the global median, while Kongsberg is 101% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kongsberg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.92 MX$205
$21.54 NOK 200
-49.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.37 MX$813
$74.6 NOK 691
-41.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 MX$221
$16.41 NOK 152
-28.21%
Cappuccino
$3.81 MX$71.4
$5.31 NOK 49.18
-28.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$24.03
$4.51 NOK 41.78
-71.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 MX$14.67
$3.35 NOK 31.09
-76.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.17 MX$59.3
$12.01 NOK 111
-73.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$92.5
$10.81 NOK 100
-54.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kongsberg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.35
$2.60 NOK 24.09
-45.77%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$41.54
$3.19 NOK 29.58
-30.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 MX$26.56
$4.75 NOK 44.05
-70.11%
Eggs
$2.52 MX$47.27
$5.14 NOK 47.68
-50.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.26 MX$136
$10.90 NOK 101
-33.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 MX$144
$12.75 NOK 118
-39.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 MX$238
$18.75 NOK 174
-32.32%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$52.2
$3.21 NOK 29.73
-13.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MX$25.64
$2.77 NOK 25.64
-50.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 MX$47.80
$3.47 NOK 32.17
-26.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$39.78
$5.07 NOK 47.02
-58.19%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.32
$2.63 NOK 24.38
-26.24%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.34
$2.64 NOK 24.42
-28.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$21.49
$3.18 NOK 29.49
-63.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 MX$22.09
$2.53 NOK 23.48
-53.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 MX$80.5
$17.99 NOK 167
-76.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.95 MX$186
$16.42 NOK 152
-39.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$29.67
$3.64 NOK 33.76
-56.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 MX$50.1
$3.91 NOK 36.20
-31.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kongsberg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$10.37
$3.17 NOK 29.37
-82.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.62 MX$499
$95.9 NOK 889
-72.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 MX$93.1
$12.11 NOK 112
-58.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.33 MX$62.4
$1.83 NOK 17.00
81.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 MX$100
$32.51 NOK 301
-83.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$27.06
$2.39 NOK 22.17
-39.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K MX$387.3K
$49.5K NOK 458.4K
-58.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$439.7K
$45.5K NOK 421.5K
-48.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kongsberg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.8 MX$1,589
$318 NOK 2,950
-73.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41 MX$439
$28.53 NOK 264
-17.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.66 MX$537
$54.4 NOK 505
-47.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kongsberg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,069
$48.00 NOK 445
18.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.91 MX$542
$58.5 NOK 543
-50.61%
Cinema Ticket
$5.14 MX$96.3
$20.59 NOK 191
-75.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kongsberg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,871
$245 NOK 2,269
-15.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,927 MX$73.6K
$3,922 NOK 36.3K
0.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kongsberg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.35 MX$812
$94.0 NOK 872
-53.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.44 MX$777
$55.1 NOK 511
-24.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 MX$1,390
$134 NOK 1,244
-44.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 MX$1,672
$159 NOK 1,473
-43.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kongsberg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 MX$18.4K
$1,075 NOK 9,965
-8.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$381 MX$7,136
$1,078 NOK 9,994
-64.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 MX$32.0K
$1,973 NOK 18.3K
-13.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 MX$20.1K
$1,749 NOK 16.2K
-38.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,943 MX$73.9K
$6,377 NOK 59.1K
-38.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,158 MX$115.4K
$4,352 NOK 40.3K
41.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kongsberg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$735 MX$13.8K
$3,667 NOK 34.0K
-79.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
4.94
131.78%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Last update for Kongsberg: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$381
Kongsberg
$1.1K 183% $697
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$255
Kongsberg
$437 71.6% $182
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$202
Kongsberg
$398 96.8% $196
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Kongsberg
$401 193% $264
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Kongsberg
$199 78.2% $87
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$67
Kongsberg
$89 32.5% $22
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Kongsberg
$130 157% $79

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $980 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,075 in Kongsberg. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Kongsberg are about 5 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $75 in Kongsberg. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $255 vs $437 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇳🇴 Kongsberg
🕒 Local time
10:16 10:16 AM
16:16 4:16 PM
6 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
28,878
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

NOK, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18.74 MXN (100 MXN = 5.34 USD). 1 EUR = 20.91 MXN (100 MXN = 4.78 EUR).

Norwegian Krone exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 9.27 NOK (1 NOK = 0.108 USD). 1 EUR = 10.34 NOK (100 NOK = 9.67 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Kongsberg 8,410 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Kongsberg

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Kongsberg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Kongsberg?
Yes – Kongsberg is pricier by about 127%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,806 per month in Playa del Carmen and $4,100 in Kongsberg. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Kongsberg?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $980 in Playa del Carmen and $1,075 in Kongsberg. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Kongsberg?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,204 in Playa del Carmen and $2,733 in Kongsberg. That makes Playa del Carmen about 56% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 72% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Kongsberg?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,204, than in Kongsberg at $2,733. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kongsberg it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Kongsberg more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kongsberg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

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