🙂A single person spends $1,294 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,160 in Stokke, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,189 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,336 in Stokke, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,084 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,513 in Stokke, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 40% cheaper than Stokke, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 3% below the global median, while Stokke is 62% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Stokke
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$204
$28.61NOK 279
-59.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$725
$103NOK 1,005
-59.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.41MX$181
$13.45NOK 131
-22.60%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.6
$4.81NOK 46.80
-24.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46MX$25.28
$2.41NOK 23.49
-39.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.84
$2.01NOK 19.56
-51.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92MX$50.8
$8.51NOK 82.9
-65.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62MX$80.2
$9.18NOK 89.4
-49.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Stokke
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.80
$1.94NOK 18.94
-26.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90MX$32.98
$2.06NOK 20.05
-7.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.18
$2.50NOK 24.32
-37.20%
Eggs
$2.64MX$45.73
$3.45NOK 33.56
-23.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.44MX$146
$10.36NOK 101
-18.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.58MX$149
$13.39NOK 130
-35.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.00MX$191
$35.67NOK 347
-69.16%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70MX$46.91
$2.82NOK 27.50
-4.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.15
$2.19NOK 21.31
-31.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.22
$3.11NOK 30.28
-38.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.69
$3.58NOK 34.87
-39.39%
Potato(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.53
$2.26NOK 22.02
-17.26%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.76
$1.80NOK 17.51
23.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.76
$2.38NOK 23.21
-54.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.63
$1.68NOK 16.40
-36.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16MX$72.2
$14.18NOK 138
-70.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.29MX$179
$14.54NOK 142
-29.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.20
$3.25NOK 31.66
-48.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.96
$3.93NOK 38.26
-35.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Stokke
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.55MX$9.61
$3.98NOK 38.80
-86.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.29MX$456
$64.7NOK 630
-59.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.20MX$55.5
$15.15NOK 148
-78.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.73
$1.44NOK 14.03
70.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.20MX$55.5
$101NOK 982
-96.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$22.91
$2.19NOK 21.37
-39.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$523.3K
$35.0KNOK 340.7K
-13.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.0K
$38.6KNOK 376.0K
-39.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Stokke
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.4MX$1,412
$212NOK 2,065
-61.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.41MX$389
$30.31NOK 295
-26.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.97MX$520
$37.28NOK 363
-19.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Stokke
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$895
$55.5NOK 540
-7.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$319
$35.65NOK 347
-48.42%
Cinema Ticket
$5.16MX$89.6
$15.15NOK 148
-65.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Stokke
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$202MX$3,501
$305NOK 2,968
-33.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,311MX$92.2K
$10.2KNOK 98.9K
-47.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Stokke
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.61MX$618
$68.8NOK 670
-48.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.37MX$701
$22.54NOK 220
79.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.6MX$1,365
$75.3NOK 734
4.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.9MX$1,507
$124NOK 1,206
-29.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Stokke
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$950MX$16.5K
$1,213NOK 11.8K
-21.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$478MX$8,298
$746NOK 7,263
-35.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621MX$28.1K
$1,848NOK 18.0K
-12.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,223MX$21.2K
$1,195NOK 11.6K
2.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,009MX$69.6K
$6,405NOK 62.4K
-37.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,473MX$112.3K
$4,167NOK 40.6K
55.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Stokke
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673MX$11.7K
$3,416NOK 33.3K
-80.30%
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: June 15, 2026
Last update for Stokke: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $950 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,213 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 408% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $103 in Stokke. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $254 vs $420 – 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 67%, 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 $1,941 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,240 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 and in Stokke?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,294 in Playa del Carmen and $2,160 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 146% 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 Stokke?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,294, than in Stokke at $2,160. 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