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 $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,463 in Roskilde, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,950 in Roskilde, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,436 in Roskilde, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 47% cheaper than Roskilde, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Playa del Carmen sits 3% below the global median, while Roskilde is 84% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Roskilde
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$18.44 DKK 119
-36.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$721
$117 DKK 752
-64.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
$13.88 DKK 89.4
-23.34%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$61.0
$6.81 DKK 43.82
-48.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.17
$4.69 DKK 30.18
-67.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.87
$3.07 DKK 19.78
-68.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.1
$9.20 DKK 59.2
-67.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.2
$7.59 DKK 48.85
-41.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Roskilde
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.97
$1.96 DKK 12.62
-29.59%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.78
$3.26 DKK 20.99
-42.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.37
$2.43 DKK 15.65
-32.51%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.42
$4.89 DKK 31.45
-48.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$145
$13.52 DKK 87.0
-38.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$145
$10.90 DKK 70.2
-23.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$186
$16.11 DKK 104
-33.40%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.12
$2.78 DKK 17.92
-6.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.25
$2.93 DKK 18.87
-50.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.94
$2.11 DKK 13.58
-9.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.98
$4.09 DKK 26.34
-49.14%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.77
$1.82 DKK 11.72
-2.20%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.87
$1.54 DKK 9.92
42.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$18.02
$1.63 DKK 10.47
-36.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.66
$0.75 DKK 4.83
44.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.7
$8.74 DKK 56.3
-53.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$179
$7.72 DKK 49.70
33.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.67
$1.96 DKK 12.63
-12.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.63
$2.16 DKK 13.88
19.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Roskilde
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.83
$3.79 DKK 24.38
-86.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$459
$78.0 DKK 502
-66.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.5
$6.34 DKK 40.82
-48.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.17
$1.38 DKK 8.88
80.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.3
$60.5 DKK 389
-94.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.65
$2.11 DKK 13.57
-37.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$524.7K
$49.2K DKK 316.8K
-38.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$406.0K
$47.8K DKK 308.0K
-51.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Roskilde
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,436
$205 DKK 1,318
-59.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$385
$20.15 DKK 130
10.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$508
$40.16 DKK 258
-26.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Roskilde
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$895
$53.9 DKK 347
-4.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
$30.15 DKK 194
-39.24%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.8
$16.99 DKK 109
-70.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Roskilde
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,480
$395 DKK 2,544
-49.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.3K
$5,857 DKK 37.7K
-11.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Roskilde
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$640
$105 DKK 674
-64.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$689
$36.35 DKK 234
9.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,360
$121 DKK 776
-34.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,509
$201 DKK 1,294
-56.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Roskilde
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.9K
$1,324 DKK 8,523
-26.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,105
$1,144 DKK 7,362
-59.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
$2,634 DKK 17.0K
-37.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.2K
$2,103 DKK 13.5K
-41.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.4K
$6,977 DKK 44.9K
-43.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.6K
$6,208 DKK 40.0K
4.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Roskilde
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
$4,306 DKK 27.7K
-84.58%
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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Roskilde: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,324 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 549% 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 $117 in Roskilde. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $339 – 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 90%, 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 $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,695 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 vs Roskilde?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $2,463 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 195% 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 Playa del Carmen or Roskilde?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Roskilde at $2,463. 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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