😐A single person spends $2,546 per month in Stokke vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,941 per month in Stokke vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,337 per month in Stokke vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Stokke costs about 101% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Stokke sits 86% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stokke
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.34NOK 201
$11.60MX$199
83.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$130NOK 1,225
$47.11MX$809
175.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.95NOK 150
$11.88MX$204
34.26%
Cappuccino
$5.92NOK 55.8
$3.98MX$68.2
48.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.06NOK 38.28
$1.43MX$24.49
183.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39NOK 31.98
$0.82MX$14.16
313.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.95NOK 113
$3.19MX$54.7
274.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$12.84NOK 121
$6.79MX$117
89.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stokke
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18NOK 20.49
$1.68MX$28.76
29.76%
White Bread(500g)
$2.12NOK 20.02
$2.20MX$37.71
-3.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.70NOK 44.26
$1.71MX$29.32
174.85%
Eggs
$4.96NOK 46.74
$2.74MX$47.05
81.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.77NOK 101
$9.58MX$164
12.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.35NOK 145
$9.01MX$155
70.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$29.99NOK 283
$12.81MX$220
134.11%
Apples(1kg)
$3.26NOK 30.73
$2.89MX$49.58
12.80%
Banana(1kg)
$2.59NOK 24.39
$1.50MX$25.70
72.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.62NOK 34.11
$2.15MX$36.87
68.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.89NOK 55.5
$2.26MX$38.79
160.62%
Potato(1kg)
$2.42NOK 22.84
$1.98MX$34.00
22.22%
Onion(1kg)
$2.85NOK 26.87
$1.99MX$34.15
43.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.50NOK 23.55
$1.23MX$21.18
103.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87NOK 8.20
$1.20MX$20.54
-27.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.54NOK 165
$4.55MX$78.1
285.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.31NOK 144
$10.37MX$178
47.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.62NOK 34.12
$1.62MX$27.79
123.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.11NOK 38.69
$2.88MX$49.44
42.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Stokke
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.49NOK 42.27
$0.60MX$10.30
648.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.6NOK 750
$28.80MX$494
176.46%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$12.03NOK 113
$5.39MX$92.5
123.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90NOK 17.88
$3.73MX$64.0
-49.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$72.0NOK 678
$5.77MX$99.0
1147.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.38NOK 22.38
$1.54MX$26.37
54.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.0KNOK 471.3K
$22.5KMX$387.0K
121.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.1KNOK 425.1K
$26.1KMX$447.3K
73.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stokke
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$268NOK 2,527
$91.4MX$1,569
193.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.45NOK 306
$25.20MX$433
28.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.9NOK 527
$31.24MX$536
78.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stokke
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.1NOK 548
$67.2MX$1,154
-13.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$32.36NOK 305
$29.11MX$500
11.16%
Cinema Ticket
$15.96NOK 150
$4.86MX$83.5
228.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stokke
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$247NOK 2,330
$224MX$3,839
10.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2KNOK 152.2K
$4,229MX$72.6K
282.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stokke
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.3NOK 804
$47.10MX$808
81.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.23NOK 200
$44.29MX$760
-52.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$53.1NOK 500
$80.1MX$1,375
-33.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.1NOK 924
$92.7MX$1,591
5.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stokke
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,296NOK 12.2K
$1,063MX$18.2K
21.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,022NOK 9,625
$390MX$6,698
161.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,314NOK 21.8K
$2,149MX$36.9K
7.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,720NOK 16.2K
$1,272MX$21.8K
35.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,864NOK 64.7K
$4,001MX$68.7K
71.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,901NOK 36.8K
$6,502MX$111.6K
-40.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stokke
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,501NOK 33.0K
$758MX$13.0K
361.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.98
11.45
-56.51%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stokke: September 14, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,296 in Stokke versus $1,063 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 362% 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 $130 in Stokke versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $447 vs $276 – 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 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 $3,819 per month in Stokke and $1,899 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 $2,546 in Stokke and $1,266 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 176% 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 $1,266, than in Stokke at $2,546. 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.