Cost of Living Comparison Between Stokmarknes and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Stokmarknes and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$18.85 NOK 175
$11.71 MX$198
60.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$117 NOK 1,093
$46.59 MX$786
152.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.96 NOK 149
$11.65 MX$197
37.00%
Cappuccino
$5.65 NOK 52.6
$4.09 MX$69.1
38.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03 NOK 37.48
$1.37 MX$23.20
194.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 NOK 28.55
$0.83 MX$14.07
269.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.03 NOK 112
$3.35 MX$56.6
259.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.93 NOK 92.4
$6.91 MX$117
43.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stokmarknes
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.46 NOK 22.91
$1.73 MX$29.15
42.20%
White Bread (500g)
$3.71 NOK 34.54
$2.26 MX$38.15
64.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.94 NOK 36.65
$1.77 MX$29.86
122.60%
Eggs
$4.92 NOK 45.81
$2.73 MX$46.12
80.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.28 NOK 124
$9.18 MX$155
44.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.66 NOK 146
$8.92 MX$151
75.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$30.11 NOK 280
$12.60 MX$213
138.97%
Apples (1kg)
$3.49 NOK 32.49
$3.02 MX$51.0
15.56%
Banana (1kg)
$2.63 NOK 24.45
$1.57 MX$26.51
67.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.47 NOK 32.33
$2.13 MX$35.88
62.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.27 NOK 49.05
$2.26 MX$38.22
133.19%
Potato (1kg)
$2.69 NOK 25.00
$2.00 MX$33.82
34.50%
Onion (1kg)
$2.91 NOK 27.05
$2.06 MX$34.85
41.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.00 NOK 27.91
$1.18 MX$19.91
154.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.41 NOK 22.40
$1.20 MX$20.32
100.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$17.70 NOK 165
$4.63 MX$78.2
282.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.84 NOK 157
$10.69 MX$180
57.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.58 NOK 33.36
$1.62 MX$27.33
120.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 NOK 40.73
$2.88 MX$48.63
52.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Stokmarknes
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.74 NOK 44.11
$0.57 MX$9.68
731.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$78.0 NOK 726
$29.83 MX$503
161.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$12.11 NOK 113
$5.45 MX$91.9
122.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.86 NOK 17.34
$3.70 MX$62.5
-49.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$62.7 NOK 583
$5.98 MX$101
947.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.33 NOK 21.71
$1.55 MX$26.22
50.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.2K NOK 467.4K
$22.3K MX$376.8K
124.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.0K NOK 381.3K
$25.9K MX$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)
$294 NOK 2,733
$89.1 MX$1,504
229.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.14 NOK 346
$25.04 MX$423
48.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.6 NOK 610
$31.50 MX$532
108.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stokmarknes
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.1 NOK 476
$67.8 MX$1,144
-24.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$42.20 NOK 393
$28.92 MX$488
45.92%
Cinema Ticket
$17.75 NOK 165
$5.05 MX$85.2
251.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stokmarknes
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$282 NOK 2,625
$225 MX$3,797
25.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.7K NOK 109.3K
$4,222 MX$71.3K
178.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stokmarknes
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.6 NOK 927
$47.44 MX$801
110.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.2 NOK 532
$44.98 MX$759
27.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 NOK 1,292
$82.0 MX$1,384
69.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$176 NOK 1,637
$92.1 MX$1,555
90.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stokmarknes
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,382 NOK 12.9K
$1,069 MX$18.0K
29.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,087 NOK 10.1K
$405 MX$6,842
168.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,312 NOK 21.5K
$1,935 MX$32.7K
19.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,591 NOK 14.8K
$1,301 MX$22.0K
22.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,535 NOK 51.5K
$3,995 MX$67.4K
38.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,575 NOK 42.6K
$6,626 MX$111.8K
-30.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stokmarknes
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$749 MX$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.

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