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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,081 in Soeborg, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,289 in Soeborg, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,498 in Soeborg, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 39% cheaper than Soeborg, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Playa del Carmen sits 5% below the global median, while Soeborg is 56% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Soeborg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72 MX$203
$23.22 DKK 151
-49.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89 MX$726
$117 DKK 762
-64.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 MX$182
$13.83 DKK 89.9
-24.01%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.1
$6.97 DKK 45.28
-48.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.13
$4.27 DKK 27.71
-64.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 MX$15.86
$3.25 DKK 21.09
-71.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.96 MX$51.2
$9.52 DKK 61.8
-68.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41 MX$76.4
$7.95 DKK 51.6
-44.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Soeborg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 MX$24.19
$1.97 DKK 12.76
-28.93%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.65
$3.17 DKK 20.57
-40.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 MX$27.01
$2.49 DKK 16.15
-37.35%
Eggs
$2.61 MX$45.20
$5.04 DKK 32.74
-48.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.32 MX$144
$13.75 DKK 89.3
-39.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.35 MX$145
$10.60 DKK 68.9
-21.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 MX$188
$16.29 DKK 106
-33.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 MX$47.00
$3.09 DKK 20.05
-12.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$26.08
$3.26 DKK 21.16
-53.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.46
$3.55 DKK 23.07
-47.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.94
$5.52 DKK 35.85
-60.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$32.18
$2.38 DKK 15.45
-21.85%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 MX$38.64
$1.73 DKK 11.26
28.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.51
$2.28 DKK 14.80
-53.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.82
$0.79 DKK 5.11
37.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MX$72.5
$10.14 DKK 65.9
-58.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.43 MX$181
$10.16 DKK 66.0
2.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 MX$28.72
$1.72 DKK 11.20
-3.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$45.26
$2.08 DKK 13.48
25.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Soeborg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.39
$3.80 DKK 24.71
-85.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.16 MX$453
$76.6 DKK 497
-65.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 MX$53.3
$7.56 DKK 49.08
-59.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$41.66
$1.69 DKK 11.00
42.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$54.2
$62.4 DKK 405
-94.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.72
$2.12 DKK 13.77
-38.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K MX$516.4K
$49.6K DKK 321.9K
-39.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$404.1K
$48.8K DKK 317.1K
-52.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Soeborg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 MX$1,408
$199 DKK 1,293
-59.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56 MX$391
$17.90 DKK 116
26.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05 MX$521
$41.70 DKK 271
-27.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Soeborg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.9 MX$917
$41.33 DKK 268
28.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 MX$319
$30.08 DKK 195
-38.86%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92 MX$85.2
$18.70 DKK 121
-73.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Soeborg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,479
$601 DKK 3,904
-66.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,175 MX$89.7K
$5,814 DKK 37.8K
-11.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Soeborg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92 MX$622
$104 DKK 675
-65.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13 MX$695
$35.48 DKK 230
13.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.7 MX$1,381
$118 DKK 768
-32.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5 MX$1,498
$199 DKK 1,290
-56.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Soeborg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$978 MX$16.9K
$907 DKK 5,894
7.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 MX$8,152
$710 DKK 4,608
-33.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,651 MX$28.6K
$1,556 DKK 10.1K
6.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,203 MX$20.9K
$1,199 DKK 7,790
0.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,953 MX$68.5K
$5,548 DKK 36.0K
-28.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,607 MX$114.5K
$3,386 DKK 22.0K
95.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Soeborg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$677 MX$11.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
4.19
172.55%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Last update for Soeborg: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $907 in Soeborg. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $117 in Soeborg. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $364 – 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 Soeborg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Soeborg cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Soeborg is pricier by about 65%, 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 $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,121 in Soeborg. 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 Soeborg?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $2,081 in Soeborg. 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 193% 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 Soeborg?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,260, than in Soeborg at $2,081. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Soeborg it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Soeborg 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 Soeborg?
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, Soeborg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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