😐A single person spends $2,463 per month in Roskilde vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,950 per month in Roskilde vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,436 per month in Roskilde vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Roskilde costs about 90% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Roskilde sits 84% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Roskilde
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.44DKK 119
$11.73MX$203
57.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$117DKK 752
$41.62MX$720
180.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.88DKK 89.3
$10.64MX$184
30.45%
Cappuccino
$6.81DKK 43.77
$3.52MX$60.9
93.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69DKK 30.15
$1.51MX$26.12
210.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07DKK 19.76
$0.97MX$16.84
216.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.20DKK 59.2
$2.95MX$51.0
211.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.59DKK 48.80
$4.45MX$77.0
70.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Roskilde
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.96DKK 12.61
$1.38MX$23.93
42.03%
White Bread(500g)
$3.26DKK 20.97
$1.89MX$32.72
72.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.43DKK 15.63
$1.64MX$28.32
48.17%
Eggs
$4.89DKK 31.41
$2.51MX$43.34
94.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.52DKK 86.9
$8.34MX$144
62.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.90DKK 70.1
$8.34MX$144
30.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.11DKK 104
$10.73MX$186
50.14%
Apples(1kg)
$2.78DKK 17.90
$2.60MX$45.04
6.92%
Banana(1kg)
$2.93DKK 18.85
$1.46MX$25.20
100.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.11DKK 13.56
$1.90MX$32.87
11.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.09DKK 26.31
$2.08MX$35.91
96.63%
Potato(1kg)
$1.82DKK 11.71
$1.78MX$30.71
2.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54DKK 9.91
$2.19MX$37.80
-29.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.63DKK 10.46
$1.04MX$17.99
56.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75DKK 4.83
$1.08MX$18.62
-30.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.74DKK 56.2
$4.08MX$70.6
114.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.72DKK 49.65
$10.32MX$178
-25.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96DKK 12.61
$1.71MX$29.61
14.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16DKK 13.86
$2.58MX$44.54
-16.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Roskilde
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.79DKK 24.35
$0.51MX$8.81
643.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$78.0DKK 501
$26.46MX$458
194.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.34DKK 40.77
$3.26MX$56.4
94.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.38DKK 8.87
$2.49MX$43.09
-44.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$60.5DKK 389
$3.25MX$56.2
1760.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.11DKK 13.56
$1.31MX$22.61
61.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.2KDKK 316.4K
$30.3KMX$523.7K
62.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$47.8KDKK 307.6K
$23.4KMX$405.3K
104.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Roskilde
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$205DKK 1,317
$82.9MX$1,433
147.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.15DKK 130
$22.22MX$384
-9.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.16DKK 258
$29.34MX$507
36.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Roskilde
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.9DKK 347
$51.6MX$893
4.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.15DKK 194
$18.32MX$317
64.57%
Cinema Ticket
$16.99DKK 109
$5.07MX$87.6
235.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Roskilde
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$395DKK 2,541
$201MX$3,473
96.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,857DKK 37.7K
$5,212MX$90.1K
12.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Roskilde
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105DKK 673
$36.92MX$639
183.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.35DKK 234
$39.79MX$688
-8.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121DKK 775
$78.5MX$1,357
53.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$201DKK 1,293
$87.1MX$1,506
130.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Roskilde
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,324DKK 8,514
$973MX$16.8K
36.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,144DKK 7,354
$468MX$8,090
144.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,634DKK 16.9K
$1,641MX$28.4K
60.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,103DKK 13.5K
$1,221MX$21.1K
72.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,977DKK 44.9K
$3,946MX$68.3K
76.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,208DKK 39.9K
$6,498MX$112.4K
-4.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Roskilde
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,306DKK 27.7K
$664MX$11.5K
548.55%
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: June 2, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,324 in Roskilde versus $973 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 549% 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 $117 in Roskilde versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $339 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 90%, 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 $3,695 per month in Roskilde and $1,945 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,463 in Roskilde and $1,297 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 195% 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 Roskilde or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Roskilde at $2,463. 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.