😐A single person spends $2,173 per month in Stokke vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,389 per month in Stokke vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,606 per month in Stokke vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Stokke costs about 72% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Stokke sits 63% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stokke
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$28.45NOK 270
$11.72MX$203
142.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.9NOK 948
$41.89MX$725
138.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.62NOK 129
$10.51MX$182
29.59%
Cappuccino
$4.90NOK 46.43
$3.59MX$62.0
36.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49NOK 23.58
$1.51MX$26.10
64.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05NOK 19.45
$0.92MX$15.83
122.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.48NOK 80.4
$2.96MX$51.2
186.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.92NOK 84.6
$4.41MX$76.3
102.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stokke
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.98NOK 18.78
$1.40MX$24.16
41.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.97NOK 18.66
$1.88MX$32.60
4.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.48NOK 23.48
$1.56MX$26.97
58.97%
Eggs
$3.42NOK 32.40
$2.61MX$45.14
31.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.39NOK 98.5
$8.32MX$144
24.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.35NOK 127
$8.35MX$145
59.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$35.76NOK 339
$10.86MX$188
229.28%
Apples(1kg)
$2.80NOK 26.56
$2.71MX$46.93
3.32%
Banana(1kg)
$2.15NOK 20.39
$1.51MX$26.04
42.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.01NOK 28.51
$1.87MX$32.41
60.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.49NOK 33.14
$2.19MX$37.89
59.36%
Potato(1kg)
$2.25NOK 21.37
$1.86MX$32.14
20.97%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87NOK 17.72
$2.23MX$38.59
-16.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.36NOK 22.38
$1.07MX$18.48
120.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.70NOK 16.13
$1.09MX$18.79
55.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.15NOK 134
$4.19MX$72.4
237.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.47NOK 137
$10.43MX$180
38.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.33NOK 31.61
$1.66MX$28.68
100.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.86NOK 36.63
$2.61MX$45.19
47.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Stokke
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.84NOK 36.40
$0.54MX$9.37
611.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.2NOK 618
$26.16MX$453
149.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$15.01NOK 142
$3.08MX$53.3
387.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.44NOK 13.64
$2.40MX$41.61
-40.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$102NOK 969
$3.13MX$54.1
3166.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.16NOK 20.44
$1.31MX$22.69
64.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3KNOK 335.2K
$29.8KMX$515.7K
18.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.1KNOK 361.5K
$23.3KMX$403.5K
63.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stokke
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$210NOK 1,988
$81.3MX$1,406
158.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.76NOK 282
$22.56MX$390
31.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.96NOK 360
$30.05MX$520
26.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stokke
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.8NOK 519
$52.9MX$915
3.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.29NOK 335
$18.39MX$318
91.90%
Cinema Ticket
$15.21NOK 144
$4.92MX$85.1
209.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stokke
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$307NOK 2,915
$201MX$3,474
53.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,933NOK 94.2K
$5,175MX$89.5K
91.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stokke
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.5NOK 659
$35.92MX$622
93.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.68NOK 215
$40.13MX$694
-43.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.5NOK 706
$79.7MX$1,379
-6.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124NOK 1,174
$86.5MX$1,496
43.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stokke
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,202NOK 11.4K
$978MX$16.9K
22.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$766NOK 7,262
$470MX$8,140
62.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,825NOK 17.3K
$1,651MX$28.6K
10.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,196NOK 11.3K
$1,203MX$20.8K
-0.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,782NOK 54.8K
$3,953MX$68.4K
46.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,020NOK 38.1K
$6,607MX$114.3K
-39.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stokke
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,374NOK 32.0K
$677MX$11.7K
398.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.96
11.42
-82.84%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stokke: July 27, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,202 in Stokke versus $978 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 399% 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 $100 in Stokke versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $418 vs $252 – 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
Stokke vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Stokke?
Yes – Stokke is pricier by about 72%, 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 $3,260 per month in Stokke and $1,890 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 Stokke and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,173 in Stokke and $1,260 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 149% 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 Stokke or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,260, than in Stokke at $2,173. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stokke it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Stokke 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, Stokke 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, Stokke makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.