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 $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,095 in Soeborg, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,126 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,305 in Soeborg, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,980 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,515 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
$11.87 MX$204
$22.86 DKK 147
-48.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90 MX$736
$114 DKK 736
-62.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.65 MX$183
$14.05 DKK 90.5
-24.20%
Cappuccino
$3.45 MX$59.2
$6.88 DKK 44.33
-49.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 MX$25.81
$4.35 DKK 28.02
-65.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 MX$16.28
$3.11 DKK 20.05
-69.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$51.9
$9.19 DKK 59.2
-67.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 MX$79.1
$7.68 DKK 49.46
-39.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Soeborg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.61
$1.99 DKK 12.79
-30.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$31.70
$3.31 DKK 21.34
-44.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.65
$2.56 DKK 16.46
-37.11%
Eggs
$2.59 MX$44.51
$4.90 DKK 31.58
-47.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.26 MX$142
$13.41 DKK 86.4
-38.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.37 MX$144
$10.92 DKK 70.3
-23.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.66 MX$183
$16.22 DKK 104
-34.28%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 MX$45.12
$2.99 DKK 19.25
-12.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 MX$25.53
$3.21 DKK 20.70
-53.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.92 MX$32.94
$3.60 DKK 23.17
-46.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$35.81
$5.63 DKK 36.24
-62.88%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$31.88
$2.35 DKK 15.12
-20.85%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.81
$1.80 DKK 11.56
25.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 MX$18.23
$2.30 DKK 14.84
-53.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.67
$0.82 DKK 5.29
32.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15 MX$71.2
$10.05 DKK 64.7
-58.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.39 MX$178
$10.63 DKK 68.5
-2.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$29.59
$1.73 DKK 11.13
-0.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$44.85
$2.07 DKK 13.34
26.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Soeborg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.30
$3.68 DKK 23.72
-85.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.94 MX$462
$77.4 DKK 498
-65.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$53.7
$7.81 DKK 50.3
-59.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.51 MX$43.09
$1.72 DKK 11.08
45.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.15 MX$54.1
$60.4 DKK 389
-94.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$21.88
$2.19 DKK 14.09
-42.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K MX$521.3K
$48.6K DKK 313.3K
-37.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K MX$404.5K
$48.5K DKK 312.6K
-51.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Soeborg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 MX$1,425
$201 DKK 1,293
-58.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71 MX$390
$17.83 DKK 115
27.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46 MX$506
$41.11 DKK 265
-28.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Soeborg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 MX$875
$41.85 DKK 270
21.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33 MX$315
$29.42 DKK 189
-37.70%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93 MX$84.5
$18.84 DKK 121
-73.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Soeborg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,386
$603 DKK 3,884
-67.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,280 MX$90.6K
$5,969 DKK 38.4K
-11.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Soeborg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90 MX$633
$103 DKK 662
-64.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89 MX$685
$35.20 DKK 227
13.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.0 MX$1,373
$121 DKK 781
-34.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5 MX$1,536
$198 DKK 1,276
-54.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Soeborg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$956 MX$16.4K
$918 DKK 5,913
4.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$477 MX$8,189
$704 DKK 4,535
-32.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,646 MX$28.3K
$1,537 DKK 9,897
7.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,225 MX$21.0K
$1,172 DKK 7,546
4.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,918 MX$67.2K
$5,028 DKK 32.4K
-22.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,459 MX$110.9K
$3,620 DKK 23.3K
78.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Soeborg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$667 MX$11.4K
-
-
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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Soeborg: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $918 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $114 in Soeborg. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 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 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 $1,906 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,142 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 vs Soeborg?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,271 in Playa del Carmen and $2,095 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 187% 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 Soeborg?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,271, than in Soeborg at $2,095. 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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