🙂A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,968 in Thisted, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,105 in Thisted, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,242 in Thisted, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 36% cheaper than Thisted, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Thisted is 47% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Thisted
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$209
$14.97DKK 98.1
-19.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$727
$114DKK 748
-63.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$187
$15.71DKK 103
-31.57%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$60.8
$6.19DKK 40.55
-43.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.21
$2.39DKK 15.65
-39.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.40
$2.60DKK 17.08
-66.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.3
$7.96DKK 52.2
-62.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.5
$7.07DKK 46.32
-36.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Thisted
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.92
$2.10DKK 13.73
-31.90%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.98
$3.53DKK 23.13
-47.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.30
$1.59DKK 10.42
-1.26%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.72
$2.80DKK 18.37
-10.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$144
$15.65DKK 103
-47.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$6.77DKK 44.40
24.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$186
$24.20DKK 159
-55.87%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.40
$2.27DKK 14.85
14.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.03
$2.31DKK 15.11
-37.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.15
$3.49DKK 22.90
-43.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.45
$3.86DKK 25.31
-45.85%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.22
$2.55DKK 16.74
-27.45%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.72
$2.01DKK 13.19
7.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$17.95
$1.90DKK 12.45
-45.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.69
$0.89DKK 5.84
20.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.4
$9.61DKK 63.0
-57.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$177
$10.56DKK 69.3
-3.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.15
$1.17DKK 7.66
43.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.96
$2.12DKK 13.90
19.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Thisted
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.86
$3.74DKK 24.49
-86.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$453
$77.0DKK 505
-66.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.3
$7.81DKK 51.2
-58.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$41.86
$1.69DKK 11.05
42.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.2
$61.0DKK 400
-94.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$22.99
$2.18DKK 14.27
-39.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$516.8K
$47.2KDKK 309.2K
-37.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$411.8K
$40.4KDKK 264.8K
-41.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Thisted
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,427
$186DKK 1,219
-55.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$399
$20.12DKK 132
14.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$524
$39.05DKK 256
-22.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Thisted
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$904
$41.68DKK 273
24.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$322
$29.66DKK 194
-37.53%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$86.6
$19.99DKK 131
-75.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Thisted
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,436
$382DKK 2,506
-48.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$92.9K
$5,499DKK 36.1K
-2.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Thisted
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$619
$77.5DKK 508
-54.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
$31.19DKK 204
29.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,370
$76.5DKK 502
2.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,548
$141DKK 921
-36.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Thisted
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.5K
$937DKK 6,144
1.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,249
$706DKK 4,629
-32.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.6K
$1,529DKK 10.0K
7.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.1K
$1,188DKK 7,786
1.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$70.6K
$5,369DKK 35.2K
-24.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$112.6K
$3,290DKK 21.6K
96.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Thisted
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
4.42
158.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Last update for Thisted: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $937 in Thisted. 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 $114 in Thisted. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $347 – 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 Thisted: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Thisted cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Thisted is pricier by about 57%, 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 $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,952 in Thisted. 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 Thisted?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $1,968 in Thisted. 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 196% 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 Thisted?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Thisted at $1,968. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Thisted it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Thisted 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 Thisted?
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, Thisted makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared