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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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