😐A single person spends $2,746 per month in Stokmarknes vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,147 per month in Stokmarknes vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,548 per month in Stokmarknes vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Stokmarknes costs about 112% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Stokmarknes sits 100% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stokmarknes
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.85NOK 175
$11.71MX$198
60.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$117NOK 1,093
$46.59MX$786
152.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.96NOK 149
$11.65MX$197
37.00%
Cappuccino
$5.65NOK 52.6
$4.09MX$69.1
38.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03NOK 37.48
$1.37MX$23.20
194.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07NOK 28.55
$0.83MX$14.07
269.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$12.03NOK 112
$3.35MX$56.6
259.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.93NOK 92.4
$6.91MX$117
43.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stokmarknes
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.46NOK 22.91
$1.73MX$29.15
42.20%
White Bread(500g)
$3.71NOK 34.54
$2.26MX$38.15
64.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.94NOK 36.65
$1.77MX$29.86
122.60%
Eggs
$4.92NOK 45.81
$2.73MX$46.12
80.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.28NOK 124
$9.18MX$155
44.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.66NOK 146
$8.92MX$151
75.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$30.11NOK 280
$12.60MX$213
138.97%
Apples(1kg)
$3.49NOK 32.49
$3.02MX$51.0
15.56%
Banana(1kg)
$2.63NOK 24.45
$1.57MX$26.51
67.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.47NOK 32.33
$2.13MX$35.88
62.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.27NOK 49.05
$2.26MX$38.22
133.19%
Potato(1kg)
$2.69NOK 25.00
$2.00MX$33.82
34.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.91NOK 27.05
$2.06MX$34.85
41.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.00NOK 27.91
$1.18MX$19.91
154.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.41NOK 22.40
$1.20MX$20.32
100.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.70NOK 165
$4.63MX$78.2
282.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.84NOK 157
$10.69MX$180
57.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.58NOK 33.36
$1.62MX$27.33
120.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38NOK 40.73
$2.88MX$48.63
52.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Stokmarknes
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.74NOK 44.11
$0.57MX$9.68
731.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$78.0NOK 726
$29.83MX$503
161.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$12.11NOK 113
$5.45MX$91.9
122.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.86NOK 17.34
$3.70MX$62.5
-49.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$62.7NOK 583
$5.98MX$101
947.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.33NOK 21.71
$1.55MX$26.22
50.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.2KNOK 467.4K
$22.3KMX$376.8K
124.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.0KNOK 381.3K
$25.9KMX$438.0K
57.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stokmarknes
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$294NOK 2,733
$89.1MX$1,504
229.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.14NOK 346
$25.04MX$423
48.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.6NOK 610
$31.50MX$532
108.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stokmarknes
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.1NOK 476
$67.8MX$1,144
-24.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$42.20NOK 393
$28.92MX$488
45.92%
Cinema Ticket
$17.75NOK 165
$5.05MX$85.2
251.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stokmarknes
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$282NOK 2,625
$225MX$3,797
25.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.7KNOK 109.3K
$4,222MX$71.3K
178.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stokmarknes
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.6NOK 927
$47.44MX$801
110.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.2NOK 532
$44.98MX$759
27.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139NOK 1,292
$82.0MX$1,384
69.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$176NOK 1,637
$92.1MX$1,555
90.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stokmarknes
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,382NOK 12.9K
$1,069MX$18.0K
29.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,087NOK 10.1K
$405MX$6,842
168.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,312NOK 21.5K
$1,935MX$32.7K
19.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,591NOK 14.8K
$1,301MX$22.0K
22.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,535NOK 51.5K
$3,995MX$67.4K
38.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,575NOK 42.6K
$6,626MX$111.8K
-30.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stokmarknes
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$749MX$12.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.96
11.45
-56.68%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stokmarknes: August 29, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,382 in Stokmarknes versus $1,069 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 $117 in Stokmarknes versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $494 vs $277 – 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 – Stokmarknes is pricier by about 112%, 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 $4,119 per month in Stokmarknes and $1,940 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 Stokmarknes and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,746 in Stokmarknes and $1,293 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 162% 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 Stokmarknes or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,293, than in Stokmarknes at $2,746. 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 – 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