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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,587 in Roskilde, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,039 in Roskilde, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,491 in Roskilde, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 51% cheaper than Roskilde, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Playa del Carmen sits 7% below the global median, while Roskilde is 89% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Roskilde
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60 MX$200
$18.68 DKK 122
-37.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11 MX$812
$116 DKK 756
-59.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.88 MX$205
$15.42 DKK 100
-22.96%
Cappuccino
$3.98 MX$68.6
$7.41 DKK 48.32
-46.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 MX$24.60
$4.23 DKK 27.54
-66.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MX$14.22
$3.51 DKK 22.85
-76.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 MX$55.0
$8.38 DKK 54.6
-61.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79 MX$117
$8.69 DKK 56.7
-21.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Roskilde
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 MX$28.89
$2.11 DKK 13.75
-20.38%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$37.88
$3.92 DKK 25.53
-43.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 MX$29.45
$2.44 DKK 15.93
-29.92%
Eggs
$2.74 MX$47.26
$5.04 DKK 32.84
-45.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.58 MX$165
$14.97 DKK 97.6
-36.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.01 MX$155
$11.95 DKK 77.9
-24.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.81 MX$221
$19.03 DKK 124
-32.69%
Apples (1kg)
$2.89 MX$49.81
$2.77 DKK 18.03
4.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$25.81
$2.82 DKK 18.41
-46.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 MX$37.03
$2.17 DKK 14.12
-0.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.96
$4.24 DKK 27.64
-46.70%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 MX$34.15
$1.77 DKK 11.53
11.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.30
$1.50 DKK 9.76
32.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.23 MX$21.28
$1.48 DKK 9.68
-16.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$20.63
$0.69 DKK 4.51
73.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55 MX$78.5
$9.06 DKK 59.0
-49.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.37 MX$179
$7.83 DKK 51.1
32.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.91
$2.06 DKK 13.40
-21.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$49.67
$2.72 DKK 17.73
5.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Roskilde
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MX$10.35
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.80 MX$497
$78.6 DKK 512
-63.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$92.9
$6.02 DKK 39.22
-10.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.73 MX$64.3
$1.80 DKK 11.71
107.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.77 MX$99.5
$64.7 DKK 422
-91.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$26.48
$2.34 DKK 15.23
-34.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K MX$388.8K
$50.8K DKK 330.9K
-55.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K MX$449.3K
$55.6K DKK 362.7K
-53.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Roskilde
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.4 MX$1,576
$224 DKK 1,462
-59.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20 MX$435
$16.26 DKK 106
54.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24 MX$539
$44.77 DKK 292
-30.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Roskilde
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 MX$1,159
$61.4 DKK 400
9.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11 MX$502
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 MX$83.8
$16.71 DKK 109
-70.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Roskilde
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$224 MX$3,856
$384 DKK 2,503
-41.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,229 MX$72.9K
$6,095 DKK 39.7K
-30.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Roskilde
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10 MX$812
$110 DKK 717
-57.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29 MX$764
$48.82 DKK 318
-9.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.1 MX$1,381
$159 DKK 1,039
-49.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7 MX$1,598
$196 DKK 1,275
-52.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Roskilde
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,063 MX$18.3K
$1,350 DKK 8,800
-21.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$390 MX$6,728
$1,164 DKK 7,584
-66.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,149 MX$37.1K
$2,651 DKK 17.3K
-18.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,272 MX$21.9K
$2,127 DKK 13.9K
-40.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,001 MX$69.0K
$6,891 DKK 44.9K
-41.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,502 MX$112.1K
$6,345 DKK 41.4K
2.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Roskilde
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$758 MX$13.1K
$4,320 DKK 28.2K
-82.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
3.67
211.99%

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 Roskilde: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,350 in Roskilde. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 470% higher in Roskilde, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $116 in Roskilde. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $367 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Roskilde: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Roskilde cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Roskilde is pricier by about 104%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,880 in Roskilde. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Roskilde?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $2,587 in Roskilde. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 173% 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 Roskilde?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,266, than in Roskilde at $2,587. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Roskilde it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Roskilde 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 safer, Playa del Carmen or Roskilde?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Roskilde makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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