🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,141 in Oslo.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,597 in Oslo.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $6,053 in Oslo.
🙂Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 59% less than in Oslo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 3% below, Oslo is 134% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Oslo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$25.53NOK 238
-54.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$719
$123NOK 1,144
-66.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$15.15NOK 141
-29.77%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$60.8
$4.86NOK 45.41
-27.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.09
$4.08NOK 38.14
-62.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.82
$3.19NOK 29.79
-69.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.0
$12.02NOK 112
-75.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.0
$11.22NOK 105
-60.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Oslo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.90
$2.39NOK 22.35
-42.26%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.69
$4.09NOK 38.17
-53.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.29
$3.66NOK 34.19
-55.19%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.30
$5.03NOK 47.00
-50.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$13.46NOK 126
-38.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$16.04NOK 150
-48.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$185
$30.76NOK 287
-65.12%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.00
$3.49NOK 32.63
-25.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.18
$2.63NOK 24.53
-44.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.84
$3.35NOK 31.32
-43.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.88
$5.16NOK 48.20
-59.69%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.68
$2.43NOK 22.69
-26.75%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.76
$2.71NOK 25.33
-19.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$17.97
$2.85NOK 26.61
-63.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.60
$2.34NOK 21.84
-53.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.5
$17.19NOK 160
-76.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$178
$18.93NOK 177
-45.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.59
$3.35NOK 31.28
-48.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.50
$4.38NOK 40.87
-41.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Oslo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.81
$4.31NOK 40.20
-88.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$457
$77.9NOK 727
-66.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.4
$10.04NOK 93.8
-67.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.05
$1.38NOK 12.93
80.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.1
$42.24NOK 394
-92.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.59
$2.18NOK 20.34
-39.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$523.2K
$36.5KNOK 340.5K
-16.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$404.9K
$42.7KNOK 398.5K
-45.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Oslo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,432
$304NOK 2,834
-72.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$384
$31.63NOK 295
-29.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$507
$57.0NOK 532
-48.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Oslo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$892
$57.8NOK 539
-10.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
$28.64NOK 267
-36.03%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.5
$18.01NOK 168
-71.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Oslo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,470
$274NOK 2,556
-26.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.1K
$14.5KNOK 135.8K
-64.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Oslo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$638
$106NOK 987
-65.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$688
$65.4NOK 611
-39.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,356
$124NOK 1,158
-36.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,505
$168NOK 1,572
-48.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Oslo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.8K
$1,671NOK 15.6K
-41.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,082
$1,446NOK 13.5K
-67.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$2,749NOK 25.7K
-40.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.1K
$2,165NOK 20.2K
-43.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.2K
$12.0KNOK 112.2K
-67.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.3K
$7,295NOK 68.1K
-10.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Oslo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
$4,411NOK 41.2K
-84.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
5.08
124.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Last update for Oslo: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $1,671 in Oslo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Oslo pays 564% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $122 in Oslo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $500 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 Oslo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Oslo cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 142% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Oslo?
On paper, Oslo earns 564% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Oslo?
Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,671 in Oslo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Oslo?
All in, you'll spend $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $3,141 in Oslo – a 142% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 194% less than in Oslo. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Oslo?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,141 in Oslo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Oslo. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Oslo more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Oslo, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Oslo?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Oslo 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 142% less than in Oslo. 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