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 $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,527 in Roskilde, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,894 in Roskilde, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,262 in Roskilde, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 50% cheaper than Roskilde, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Playa del Carmen sits 6% 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
$11.99 MX$210
$18.81 DKK 123
-36.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78 MX$733
$119 DKK 775
-64.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.75 MX$189
$13.75 DKK 90.0
-21.82%
Cappuccino
$3.50 MX$61.3
$6.89 DKK 45.10
-49.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$25.41
$4.55 DKK 29.75
-68.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 MX$15.52
$3.10 DKK 20.30
-71.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.7
$9.49 DKK 62.1
-68.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51 MX$79.1
$7.65 DKK 50.0
-41.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Roskilde
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$25.12
$2.00 DKK 13.11
-28.50%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 MX$32.23
$3.15 DKK 20.60
-41.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$27.51
$2.43 DKK 15.87
-35.39%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$44.06
$5.01 DKK 32.76
-49.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.28 MX$145
$13.71 DKK 89.7
-39.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.43 MX$148
$10.58 DKK 69.2
-20.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.68 MX$187
$15.94 DKK 104
-33.00%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 MX$45.76
$2.65 DKK 17.36
-1.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MX$25.22
$2.91 DKK 19.03
-50.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 MX$34.41
$2.08 DKK 13.59
-5.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$36.74
$4.09 DKK 26.76
-48.90%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 MX$32.47
$1.82 DKK 11.92
1.65%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 MX$38.02
$1.49 DKK 9.73
45.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 MX$18.09
$1.57 DKK 10.25
-34.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$18.84
$0.81 DKK 5.30
32.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10 MX$72.0
$9.02 DKK 59.0
-54.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.17 MX$178
$7.45 DKK 48.72
36.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$29.38
$1.92 DKK 12.56
-12.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 MX$44.31
$2.05 DKK 13.38
23.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Roskilde
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.93
$3.70 DKK 24.22
-86.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.04 MX$457
$78.5 DKK 513
-66.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.7
$6.05 DKK 39.57
-46.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.41 MX$42.19
$1.41 DKK 9.20
70.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.6
$61.3 DKK 401
-94.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 MX$23.17
$2.11 DKK 13.83
-37.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K MX$520.9K
$48.1K DKK 314.8K
-38.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K MX$415.0K
$48.1K DKK 314.6K
-50.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Roskilde
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,439
$206 DKK 1,347
-60.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95 MX$403
$20.19 DKK 132
13.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11 MX$528
$40.22 DKK 263
-25.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Roskilde
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 MX$912
$54.9 DKK 359
-5.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53 MX$325
$30.37 DKK 199
-38.99%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98 MX$87.3
$17.20 DKK 113
-71.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Roskilde
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,463
$381 DKK 2,495
-48.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,336 MX$93.6K
$5,941 DKK 38.9K
-10.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Roskilde
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60 MX$624
$101 DKK 662
-64.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33 MX$707
$35.05 DKK 229
15.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.8 MX$1,381
$120 DKK 784
-34.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,560
$196 DKK 1,281
-54.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Roskilde
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$947 MX$16.6K
$1,346 DKK 8,806
-29.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,314
$1,144 DKK 7,484
-58.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,644 MX$28.8K
$2,632 DKK 17.2K
-37.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,211 MX$21.2K
$2,120 DKK 13.9K
-42.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,056 MX$71.1K
$6,783 DKK 44.4K
-40.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,470 MX$113.5K
$6,120 DKK 40.0K
5.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Roskilde
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 MX$11.5K
$4,162 DKK 27.2K
-84.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
3.93
190.59%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Last update for Roskilde: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,346 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 536% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $119 in Roskilde. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $336 – 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 101%, 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 $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,790 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 $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $2,527 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 201% 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 $1,256, than in Roskilde at $2,527. 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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