🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,736 in Kongsvinger.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,279 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,136 in Kongsvinger.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,292 in Playa del Carmen versus $5,537 in Kongsvinger.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 54% less than in Kongsvinger, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 7% below, Kongsvinger is 100% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kongsvinger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$199
$21.35NOK 201
-45.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$809
$108NOK 1,016
-56.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$204
$15.82NOK 149
-24.91%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.2
$5.70NOK 53.7
-30.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.49
$4.21NOK 39.70
-66.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.16
$3.19NOK 30.06
-74.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$54.7
$11.70NOK 110
-72.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$10.40NOK 98.0
-34.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kongsvinger
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.76
$3.92NOK 36.92
-57.14%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.71
$3.67NOK 34.57
-40.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.32
$3.91NOK 36.86
-56.27%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.05
$4.86NOK 45.81
-43.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$164
$13.46NOK 127
-28.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$15.24NOK 144
-40.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$220
$30.17NOK 284
-57.54%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.58
$3.29NOK 31.01
-12.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.70
$2.74NOK 25.85
-45.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.87
$3.49NOK 32.92
-38.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.79
$4.58NOK 43.17
-50.66%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.00
$3.06NOK 28.81
-35.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.15
$3.28NOK 30.93
-39.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.18
$3.05NOK 28.75
-59.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.54
$2.37NOK 22.37
-49.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.1
$18.54NOK 175
-75.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$178
$16.82NOK 158
-38.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.79
$3.62NOK 34.07
-55.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.44
$4.31NOK 40.59
-33.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kongsvinger
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.30
$4.79NOK 45.08
-87.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$494
$86.1NOK 811
-66.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.5
$12.44NOK 117
-56.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.0
$1.91NOK 18.03
95.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.0
$67.5NOK 636
-91.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.37
$2.30NOK 21.64
-33.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$387.0K
$51.6KNOK 486.1K
-56.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$447.3K
$43.4KNOK 409.2K
-40.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kongsvinger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,569
$297NOK 2,802
-69.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$433
$28.31NOK 267
-10.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$536
$58.2NOK 549
-46.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kongsvinger
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,154
$50.5NOK 475
33.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$500
$32.77NOK 309
-11.17%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.5
$17.38NOK 164
-72.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kongsvinger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,839
$260NOK 2,446
-13.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.6K
$14.1KNOK 132.4K
-69.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kongsvinger
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$808
$88.2NOK 831
-46.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$760
$54.7NOK 515
-19.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,375
$131NOK 1,232
-38.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,591
$143NOK 1,344
-35.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kongsvinger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.2K
$1,117NOK 10.5K
-4.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,698
$877NOK 8,265
-55.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$36.9K
$1,796NOK 16.9K
19.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.8K
$1,813NOK 17.1K
-29.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$68.7K
$6,348NOK 59.8K
-36.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$111.6K
$4,200NOK 39.6K
54.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kongsvinger
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 Kongsvinger: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen and $1,117 in Kongsvinger. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $108 in Kongsvinger for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $276 vs $505 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 – living expenses run 116% 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 and in Kongsvinger?
You'd need roughly $1,899 in Playa del Carmen and $4,104 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 compared to Kongsvinger?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,117 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 and in Kongsvinger?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $108 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 $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,736 in Kongsvinger – a 116% 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 in Kongsvinger?
At $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,736 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 – similar infrastructure at $1,266 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 – expenses run 116% less than in Kongsvinger. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared