๐A single person spends $2,447 per month in Stokmarknes vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $3,821 per month in Stokmarknes vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $5,194 per month in Stokmarknes vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐Stokmarknes costs about 94% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Stokmarknes sits 83% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Stokmarknes
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.55NOKย 238
$11.67MX$202
118.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101NOKย 938
$41.88MX$726
140.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.91NOKย 129
$10.40MX$180
33.75%
Cappuccino
$5.05NOKย 46.97
$3.61MX$62.6
39.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10NOKย 28.84
$1.47MX$25.45
110.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89NOKย 26.88
$0.91MX$15.80
217.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.00NOKย 93.0
$3.03MX$52.6
230.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.43NOKย 87.7
$4.47MX$77.4
110.96%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Stokmarknes
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.21NOKย 20.52
$1.38MX$23.83
60.14%
White Bread(500g)
$3.45NOKย 32.08
$1.84MX$31.93
87.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.18NOKย 29.56
$1.61MX$27.82
97.52%
Eggs
$4.32NOKย 40.21
$2.57MX$44.52
68.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.01NOKย 112
$8.49MX$147
41.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.75NOKย 137
$8.49MX$147
73.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.21NOKย 262
$10.99MX$190
156.69%
Apples(1kg)
$3.46NOKย 32.22
$2.73MX$47.25
26.74%
Banana(1kg)
$2.36NOKย 21.96
$1.50MX$25.92
57.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.30NOKย 30.72
$1.96MX$33.93
68.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.57NOKย 42.49
$2.12MX$36.70
115.57%
Potato(1kg)
$2.46NOKย 22.89
$1.86MX$32.30
32.26%
Onion(1kg)
$2.59NOKย 24.05
$2.17MX$37.67
19.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.76NOKย 25.70
$1.07MX$18.59
157.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.83NOKย 16.99
$1.05MX$18.18
74.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.35NOKย 143
$4.19MX$72.6
266.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.51NOKย 172
$10.28MX$178
80.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.45NOKย 32.08
$1.67MX$28.87
106.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97NOKย 36.88
$2.49MX$43.12
59.44%
๐ Getting Around
Stokmarknes
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.23NOKย 39.35
$0.54MX$9.37
683.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.9NOKย 687
$26.27MX$455
181.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.00NOKย 93.0
$3.10MX$53.8
222.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.38NOKย 12.87
$2.46MX$42.66
-43.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$47.14NOKย 438
$3.24MX$56.1
1354.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.11NOKย 19.61
$1.26MX$21.83
67.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.1KNOKย 336.0K
$30.2KMX$522.8K
19.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.0KNOKย 362.6K
$23.4KMX$406.3K
66.31%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stokmarknes
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$242NOKย 2,246
$84.0MX$1,456
187.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.33NOKย 357
$22.21MX$385
72.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.3NOKย 524
$29.65MX$514
89.88%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Stokmarknes
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.95NOKย 465
$52.6MX$912
-5.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.73NOKย 323
$18.34MX$318
89.37%
Cinema Ticket
$16.41NOKย 153
$4.95MX$85.7
231.52%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Stokmarknes
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$289NOKย 2,686
$198MX$3,438
45.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,968NOKย 92.7K
$5,322MX$92.2K
87.32%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Stokmarknes
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.9NOKย 892
$35.95MX$623
166.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.5NOKย 479
$40.06MX$694
28.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$109NOKย 1,018
$78.8MX$1,365
38.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$154NOKย 1,428
$86.5MX$1,499
77.53%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Stokmarknes
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,205NOKย 11.2K
$977MX$16.9K
23.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$902NOKย 8,387
$471MX$8,158
91.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,811NOKย 16.8K
$1,595MX$27.6K
13.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,558NOKย 14.5K
$1,215MX$21.1K
28.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,728NOKย 53.3K
$4,032MX$69.9K
42.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,668NOKย 43.4K
$6,579MX$114.0K
-29.05%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Stokmarknes
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$714MX$12.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.38
11.42
-61.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stokmarknes: April 21, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $1,205 in Stokmarknes versus $977 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.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Stokmarknes versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $456 vs $252 โ 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
Stokmarknes vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Stokmarknes?
Yes โ Stokmarknes is pricier by about 94%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $3,671 per month in Stokmarknes and $1,891 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ 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 Stokmarknes vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,447 in Stokmarknes and $1,261 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category โ it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 181% 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 Stokmarknes or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Stokmarknes at $2,447. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stokmarknes it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Stokmarknes or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen โ lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
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, Stokmarknes makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Stokmarknes vs other spots: cost of living compared