😐A single person spends $2,527 per month in Roskilde vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,894 per month in Roskilde vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,262 per month in Roskilde vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Roskilde costs about 101% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Roskilde sits 89% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Roskilde
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.81DKK 123
$11.99MX$210
56.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$119DKK 775
$41.78MX$731
183.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75DKK 89.9
$10.75MX$188
27.91%
Cappuccino
$6.89DKK 45.05
$3.50MX$61.1
96.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55DKK 29.72
$1.45MX$25.33
213.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10DKK 20.28
$0.88MX$15.47
252.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.49DKK 62.0
$2.95MX$51.6
221.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.65DKK 49.97
$4.51MX$78.9
69.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Roskilde
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.00DKK 13.10
$1.43MX$25.04
39.86%
White Bread(500g)
$3.15DKK 20.58
$1.84MX$32.13
71.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.43DKK 15.86
$1.57MX$27.42
54.78%
Eggs
$5.01DKK 32.72
$2.51MX$43.92
99.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.71DKK 89.6
$8.28MX$145
65.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.58DKK 69.1
$8.43MX$147
25.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.94DKK 104
$10.68MX$187
49.25%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65DKK 17.34
$2.61MX$45.62
1.53%
Banana(1kg)
$2.91DKK 19.01
$1.44MX$25.15
102.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08DKK 13.57
$1.96MX$34.31
6.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.09DKK 26.73
$2.09MX$36.62
95.69%
Potato(1kg)
$1.82DKK 11.90
$1.85MX$32.37
-1.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.49DKK 9.72
$2.17MX$37.90
-31.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.57DKK 10.23
$1.03MX$18.04
52.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81DKK 5.29
$1.07MX$18.78
-24.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.02DKK 58.9
$4.10MX$71.7
120.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.45DKK 48.66
$10.17MX$178
-26.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92DKK 12.54
$1.68MX$29.29
14.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05DKK 13.37
$2.53MX$44.17
-18.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Roskilde
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.70DKK 24.20
$0.51MX$8.90
625.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$78.5DKK 513
$26.04MX$455
201.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.05DKK 39.52
$3.23MX$56.5
87.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.41DKK 9.19
$2.41MX$42.06
-41.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.3DKK 401
$3.23MX$56.5
1798.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.11DKK 13.82
$1.32MX$23.10
59.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.1KDKK 314.5K
$29.7KMX$519.2K
62.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$48.1KDKK 314.3K
$23.7KMX$413.7K
103.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Roskilde
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$206DKK 1,345
$82.0MX$1,434
151.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.19DKK 132
$22.95MX$401
-12.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.22DKK 263
$30.11MX$527
33.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Roskilde
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.9DKK 358
$52.0MX$909
5.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.37DKK 198
$18.53MX$324
63.90%
Cinema Ticket
$17.20DKK 112
$4.98MX$87.0
245.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Roskilde
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$381DKK 2,492
$197MX$3,452
93.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,941DKK 38.8K
$5,336MX$93.3K
11.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Roskilde
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101DKK 661
$35.60MX$622
184.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.05DKK 229
$40.33MX$705
-13.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120DKK 783
$78.8MX$1,377
52.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$196DKK 1,279
$88.9MX$1,555
120.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Roskilde
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,346DKK 8,796
$947MX$16.6K
42.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,144DKK 7,475
$474MX$8,288
141.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,632DKK 17.2K
$1,644MX$28.7K
60.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,120DKK 13.8K
$1,211MX$21.2K
75.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,783DKK 44.3K
$4,056MX$70.9K
67.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,120DKK 40.0K
$6,470MX$113.1K
-5.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Roskilde
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,162DKK 27.2K
$654MX$11.4K
536.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.93
11.42
-65.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Roskilde: July 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,346 in Roskilde versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. 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 536% higher in Roskilde, 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 $119 in Roskilde versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $336 vs $249 – 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
Roskilde vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Roskilde?
Yes – Roskilde is pricier by about 101%, 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 $3,790 per month in Roskilde and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. 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 Roskilde and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,527 in Roskilde and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. 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 201% 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 Roskilde or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Roskilde at $2,527. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Roskilde it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Roskilde or Playa del Carmen 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, Roskilde or Playa del Carmen?
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, Roskilde makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.