🙂A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,204 in Stokke, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,331 in Stokke, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,458 in Stokke, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 42% cheaper than Stokke, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 4% below the global median, while Stokke is 65% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Stokke
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$29.30NOK 273
-59.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$101NOK 939
-57.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$13.59NOK 127
-22.08%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$4.90NOK 45.62
-26.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$2.36NOK 22.04
-37.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$1.97NOK 18.39
-52.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$8.47NOK 78.9
-63.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$8.88NOK 82.8
-49.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Stokke
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.97NOK 18.36
-27.41%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$1.99NOK 18.51
-5.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$2.57NOK 23.98
-36.58%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$3.36NOK 31.33
-21.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$10.09NOK 94.0
-18.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$13.29NOK 124
-37.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$35.56NOK 331
-68.79%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$2.76NOK 25.74
-3.99%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$2.08NOK 19.38
-27.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$3.01NOK 28.07
-33.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$3.59NOK 33.49
-42.06%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$2.25NOK 21.00
-20.44%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$1.78NOK 16.61
22.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$2.27NOK 21.20
-52.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$1.62NOK 15.11
-35.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$14.04NOK 131
-71.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$15.33NOK 143
-33.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$3.33NOK 31.05
-48.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$3.95NOK 36.85
-36.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Stokke
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$4.00NOK 37.27
-87.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
$65.3NOK 609
-58.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$15.30NOK 143
-79.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$1.39NOK 12.95
72.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$99.7NOK 930
-96.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$2.15NOK 20.08
-40.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$35.7KNOK 333.0K
-13.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$38.2KNOK 355.9K
-38.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Stokke
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$214NOK 1,990
-61.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$30.83NOK 287
-27.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$38.11NOK 355
-22.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Stokke
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$53.9NOK 502
-3.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
$36.02NOK 336
-48.17%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$14.77NOK 138
-66.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Stokke
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$313NOK 2,918
-36.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$9,937NOK 92.6K
-46.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Stokke
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$68.2NOK 635
-46.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$22.62NOK 211
77.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$75.2NOK 700
6.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$122NOK 1,134
-26.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Stokke
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$1,223NOK 11.4K
-21.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$759NOK 7,072
-38.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$1,850NOK 17.2K
-13.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$1,207NOK 11.2K
0.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$6,420NOK 59.8K
-38.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
$3,935NOK 36.7K
63.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Stokke
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$3,527NOK 32.9K
-79.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
1.96
482.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Last update for Stokke: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,223 in Stokke. 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 390% higher in Stokke, 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $101 in Stokke. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $417 – 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 Stokke: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stokke cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Stokke is pricier by about 71%, 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 $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,306 in Stokke. 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 Stokke?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $2,204 in Stokke. 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 142% 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 Stokke?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,287, than in Stokke at $2,204. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stokke it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Stokke 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 Stokke?
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, Stokke makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared