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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,478 in Kongsvinger.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,130 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,761 in Kongsvinger.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,999 in Playa del Carmen versus $5,044 in Kongsvinger.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 49% less than in Kongsvinger, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Kongsvinger is 85% above.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kongsvinger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.67 MX$202
$25.08 NOKย 233
-53.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.88 MX$726
$103 NOKย 953
-59.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.40 MX$180
$13.73 NOKย 128
-24.25%
Cappuccino
$3.61 MX$62.6
$4.88 NOKย 45.39
-26.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MX$25.45
$3.13 NOKย 29.11
-53.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 MX$15.80
$2.95 NOKย 27.43
-69.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$52.6
$10.25 NOKย 95.3
-70.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 MX$77.4
$9.75 NOKย 90.6
-54.15%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kongsvinger
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.83
$2.27 NOKย 21.13
-39.21%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 MX$31.93
$3.34 NOKย 31.05
-44.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.82
$3.14 NOKย 29.25
-48.73%
Eggs
$2.57 MX$44.52
$4.44 NOKย 41.25
-42.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.49 MX$147
$12.10 NOKย 113
-29.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.49 MX$147
$14.41 NOKย 134
-41.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.99 MX$190
$28.39 NOKย 264
-61.29%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 MX$47.25
$3.45 NOKย 32.09
-20.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$25.92
$2.42 NOKย 22.48
-38.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 MX$33.93
$3.25 NOKย 30.22
-39.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$36.70
$4.36 NOKย 40.52
-51.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$32.30
$2.45 NOKย 22.76
-24.08%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.67
$2.56 NOKย 23.85
-15.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.59
$2.74 NOKย 25.44
-60.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05 MX$18.18
$1.84 NOKย 17.12
-42.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MX$72.6
$14.93 NOKย 139
-71.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.28 MX$178
$18.24 NOKย 170
-43.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 MX$28.87
$3.27 NOKย 30.37
-48.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 MX$43.12
$4.03 NOKย 37.44
-38.21%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kongsvinger
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.37
$4.32 NOKย 40.20
-87.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.27 MX$455
$72.4 NOKย 673
-63.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.10 MX$53.8
$10.19 NOKย 94.8
-69.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.46 MX$42.66
$1.45 NOKย 13.53
69.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$56.1
$46.57 NOKย 433
-93.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 MX$21.83
$2.10 NOKย 19.54
-40.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K MX$522.8K
$35.0K NOKย 325.7K
-13.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$406.3K
$38.8K NOKย 361.2K
-39.65%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kongsvinger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.0 MX$1,456
$238 NOKย 2,213
-64.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21 MX$385
$38.79 NOKย 361
-42.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65 MX$514
$55.3 NOKย 515
-46.41%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kongsvinger
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.6 MX$912
$48.95 NOKย 455
7.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.34 MX$318
$35.15 NOKย 327
-47.82%
Cinema Ticket
$4.95 MX$85.7
$16.68 NOKย 155
-70.32%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kongsvinger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 MX$3,438
$285 NOKย 2,653
-30.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,322 MX$92.2K
$10.1K NOKย 94.3K
-47.53%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kongsvinger
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.95 MX$623
$97.5 NOKย 907
-63.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06 MX$694
$52.4 NOKย 488
-23.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.8 MX$1,365
$108 NOKย 1,005
-27.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5 MX$1,499
$150 NOKย 1,393
-42.26%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kongsvinger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$977 MX$16.9K
$1,221 NOKย 11.4K
-19.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$471 MX$8,158
$890 NOKย 8,274
-47.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,595 MX$27.6K
$1,822 NOKย 16.9K
-12.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,215 MX$21.1K
$1,567 NOKย 14.6K
-22.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,032 MX$69.9K
$6,074 NOKย 56.5K
-33.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,579 MX$114.0K
$4,538 NOKย 42.2K
44.97%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kongsvinger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$714 MX$12.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
4.38
160.73%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Last update for Kongsvinger: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $977 in Playa del Carmen and $1,221 in Kongsvinger. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $42 in Playa del Carmen vs $103 in Kongsvinger for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $453 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

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 Kongsvinger: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Kongsvinger?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost โ€“ living expenses run 97% lower than in Kongsvinger. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen vs Kongsvinger?
You'd need roughly $1,891 in Playa del Carmen and $3,717 in Kongsvinger to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen vs Kongsvinger?
Rent for a central apartment: $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,221 in Kongsvinger. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen vs Kongsvinger?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen โ€“ a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $103 in Kongsvinger. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Kongsvinger?
All in, you'll spend $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,478 in Kongsvinger โ€“ a 97% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or Kongsvinger?
At $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,478 in Kongsvinger, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Kongsvinger. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Kongsvinger?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value โ€“ similar infrastructure at $1,261 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Kongsvinger?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Kongsvinger are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet โ€“ expenses run 97% less than in Kongsvinger. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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