😐A single person spends $2,289 per month in Soeborg vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,565 per month in Soeborg vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,841 per month in Soeborg vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Soeborg costs about 75% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Soeborg sits 66% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Soeborg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.97DKK 148
$11.96MX$203
92.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$118DKK 759
$47.38MX$804
148.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.24DKK 91.8
$11.75MX$199
21.19%
Cappuccino
$7.05DKK 45.46
$4.12MX$70.0
71.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.49DKK 28.97
$1.40MX$23.74
220.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53DKK 22.78
$0.91MX$15.48
287.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.51DKK 54.9
$3.21MX$54.4
165.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.84DKK 50.5
$7.07MX$120
10.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Soeborg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.12DKK 13.64
$1.68MX$28.44
26.19%
White Bread(500g)
$4.04DKK 26.01
$2.15MX$36.48
87.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.39DKK 15.38
$1.77MX$30.10
35.03%
Eggs
$5.12DKK 33.01
$2.82MX$47.76
81.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.03DKK 103
$9.20MX$156
74.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.96DKK 77.1
$9.23MX$157
29.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.77DKK 121
$12.64MX$214
48.50%
Apples(1kg)
$3.30DKK 21.29
$2.95MX$50.1
11.86%
Banana(1kg)
$3.41DKK 21.99
$1.58MX$26.79
115.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.03DKK 25.94
$2.22MX$37.70
81.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.42DKK 34.91
$2.36MX$40.09
129.66%
Potato(1kg)
$2.30DKK 14.83
$1.99MX$33.81
15.58%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17DKK 14.01
$1.98MX$33.58
9.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.18DKK 14.03
$1.24MX$21.04
75.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.44DKK 9.30
$1.21MX$20.55
19.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.80DKK 63.2
$4.60MX$78.1
113.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.36DKK 66.8
$10.52MX$178
-1.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.89DKK 12.21
$1.69MX$28.70
11.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46DKK 15.83
$2.77MX$47.06
-11.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Soeborg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.98DKK 25.64
$0.60MX$10.22
563.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$97.1DKK 626
$29.70MX$504
226.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.03DKK 38.85
$5.24MX$88.8
15.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.75DKK 11.27
$3.65MX$61.9
-52.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$65.0DKK 419
$5.78MX$98.1
1024.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.58DKK 16.65
$1.54MX$26.09
67.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$51.3KDKK 330.5K
$22.8KMX$386.8K
124.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$53.9KDKK 347.4K
$25.8KMX$437.9K
108.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Soeborg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$195DKK 1,254
$90.7MX$1,538
114.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.44DKK 80.2
$25.19MX$427
-50.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.85DKK 250
$31.75MX$539
22.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Soeborg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.83DKK 282
$68.8MX$1,167
-36.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.58DKK 165
$29.37MX$498
-12.90%
Cinema Ticket
$20.33DKK 131
$4.86MX$82.5
318.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Soeborg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$771DKK 4,967
$226MX$3,828
241.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,155DKK 39.7K
$4,194MX$71.1K
46.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Soeborg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$109DKK 705
$47.38MX$804
130.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.41DKK 312
$43.45MX$737
11.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$134DKK 863
$80.2MX$1,361
66.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$194DKK 1,253
$91.4MX$1,550
112.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Soeborg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$954DKK 6,149
$1,086MX$18.4K
-12.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$782DKK 5,042
$409MX$6,933
91.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,688DKK 10.9K
$1,972MX$33.5K
-14.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,327DKK 8,553
$1,281MX$21.7K
3.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,041DKK 32.5K
$4,046MX$68.6K
24.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,508DKK 22.6K
$6,704MX$113.7K
-47.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Soeborg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$773MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.7
11.45
-67.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Soeborg: September 7, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $954 in Soeborg versus $1,086 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $118 in Soeborg versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $408 vs $278 – 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
Soeborg vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Soeborg?
Yes – Soeborg is pricier by about 75%, 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 $3,433 per month in Soeborg and $1,958 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 Soeborg and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,289 in Soeborg and $1,305 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 227% 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 Soeborg or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,305, than in Soeborg at $2,289. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Soeborg it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Soeborg 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, Soeborg 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, Soeborg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.