Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Larvik

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,657 in Larvik, rent and utilities included – about $17,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Larvik, Norway
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Larvik
🇳🇴 Norway
$2,657
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Larvik actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,657 in Larvik.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Larvik $2,657

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,071 in Larvik.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Larvik $4,071

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,959 in Playa del Carmen versus $5,486 in Larvik.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,959
  • Larvik $5,486

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 55% less than in Larvik, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 12% below, Larvik is 95% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Larvik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.92 MX$205
$21.45 NOK 197
-49.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.37 MX$814
$130 NOK 1,195
-66.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 MX$221
$16.41 NOK 151
-28.21%
Cappuccino
$3.81 MX$71.5
$6.16 NOK 56.6
-38.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$24.07
$4.31 NOK 39.64
-70.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 MX$14.70
$3.48 NOK 32.01
-77.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.17 MX$59.5
$11.89 NOK 109
-73.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$92.7
$12.63 NOK 116
-60.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Larvik
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.40
$2.59 NOK 23.80
-45.56%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$41.62
$4.34 NOK 39.91
-48.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 MX$26.61
$1.57 NOK 14.39
-9.55%
Eggs
$2.52 MX$47.36
$3.79 NOK 34.81
-33.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.26 MX$136
$15.49 NOK 142
-53.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 MX$144
$15.61 NOK 143
-50.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 MX$238
$31.63 NOK 291
-59.88%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$52.3
$3.16 NOK 29.06
-12.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MX$25.68
$2.73 NOK 25.04
-49.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 MX$47.89
$2.75 NOK 25.29
-7.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$39.86
$4.41 NOK 40.54
-51.93%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.39
$2.74 NOK 25.18
-29.20%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.41
$2.86 NOK 26.26
-33.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$21.53
$2.61 NOK 23.99
-55.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 MX$22.13
$1.62 NOK 14.93
-27.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 MX$80.6
$14.73 NOK 135
-70.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.95 MX$187
$16.74 NOK 154
-40.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$29.73
$3.60 NOK 33.05
-56.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 MX$50.1
$4.22 NOK 38.75
-36.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Larvik
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$10.39
$4.81 NOK 44.18
-88.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.62 MX$500
$63.9 NOK 587
-58.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 MX$93.3
$9.68 NOK 89.0
-48.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.33 MX$62.5
$1.56 NOK 14.36
113.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 MX$101
$71.5 NOK 656
-92.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$27.11
$2.51 NOK 23.06
-42.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K MX$388.0K
$42.2K NOK 387.5K
-51.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$440.5K
$45.6K NOK 419.3K
-48.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Larvik
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.8 MX$1,592
$303 NOK 2,785
-72.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41 MX$439
$21.38 NOK 196
9.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.66 MX$538
$43.43 NOK 399
-34.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Larvik
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,071
$50.9 NOK 467
12.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.91 MX$543
$37.93 NOK 348
-23.78%
Cinema Ticket
$5.14 MX$96.5
$15.97 NOK 147
-67.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Larvik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,878
$161 NOK 1,476
28.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,927 MX$73.7K
$16.2K NOK 148.9K
-75.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Larvik
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.35 MX$814
$75.6 NOK 695
-42.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.44 MX$778
$61.2 NOK 562
-32.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 MX$1,393
$106 NOK 972
-29.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 MX$1,676
$130 NOK 1,196
-31.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Larvik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 MX$18.4K
$1,247 NOK 11.5K
-21.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$381 MX$7,150
$1,048 NOK 9,625
-63.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 MX$32.1K
$2,099 NOK 19.3K
-18.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 MX$20.2K
$1,738 NOK 16.0K
-38.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,943 MX$74.0K
$6,462 NOK 59.4K
-38.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,158 MX$115.6K
$4,373 NOK 40.2K
40.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Larvik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$735 MX$13.8K
$3,303 NOK 30.3K
-77.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
4.75
141.05%

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 Larvik: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$381
Larvik
$1K 175% $667
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$255
Larvik
$479 88.1% $224
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$202
Larvik
$411 103% $208
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Larvik
$368 169% $231
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Larvik
$168 50.2% $56
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$67
Larvik
$83 23% $15
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Larvik
$101 99.4% $50

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $980 in Playa del Carmen and $1,247 in Larvik. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Larvik pays about 4.5 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $43 in Playa del Carmen vs $130 in Larvik for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $255 vs $479 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇳🇴 Larvik
🕒 Local time
04:37 4:37 AM
10:37 10:37 AM
6 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
48,743
💱 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 = 18.77 MXN (100 MXN = 5.33 USD). 1 EUR = 20.95 MXN (100 MXN = 4.77 EUR).

Norwegian Krone exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 9.19 NOK (1 NOK = 0.109 USD). 1 EUR = 10.25 NOK (100 NOK = 9.75 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Larvik 8,440 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Larvik

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 Larvik: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Larvik?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 55% lower than in Larvik. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or in Larvik?
On paper, salaries run 78% lower in Playa del Carmen. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen compared to Larvik?
Rent for a central apartment: $980 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,247 in Larvik. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Playa del Carmen compared to Larvik?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 58% less than in Larvik. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Larvik?
Childcare runs $207 in Playa del Carmen versus $161 in Larvik. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or in Larvik?
At $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,657 in Larvik, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Larvik. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Playa del Carmen or Larvik?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% less than in Larvik. 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

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