😐A single person spends $2,702 per month in Tonsberg vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,937 per month in Tonsberg vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,172 per month in Tonsberg vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Tonsberg costs about 109% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Tonsberg sits 97% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tonsberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.99NOK 195
$11.71MX$198
79.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$107NOK 997
$46.59MX$786
130.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.96NOK 148
$11.65MX$197
37.00%
Cappuccino
$5.55NOK 51.6
$4.09MX$69.1
35.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.73NOK 53.3
$1.37MX$23.20
318.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.43NOK 50.5
$0.83MX$14.07
554.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.96NOK 111
$3.35MX$56.6
257.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.77NOK 100
$6.91MX$117
55.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tonsberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.28NOK 21.21
$1.73MX$29.15
31.79%
White Bread(500g)
$3.58NOK 33.33
$2.26MX$38.15
58.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.42NOK 41.17
$1.77MX$29.86
149.72%
Eggs
$4.87NOK 45.36
$2.73MX$46.12
78.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.56NOK 108
$9.18MX$155
25.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.09NOK 140
$8.92MX$151
69.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$33.62NOK 313
$12.60MX$213
166.83%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03NOK 28.19
$3.02MX$51.0
0.33%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35NOK 21.87
$1.57MX$26.51
49.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.05NOK 28.39
$2.13MX$35.88
43.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.70NOK 53.0
$2.26MX$38.22
152.21%
Potato(1kg)
$2.55NOK 23.76
$2.00MX$33.82
27.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.87NOK 26.73
$2.06MX$34.85
39.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.02NOK 28.14
$1.18MX$19.91
155.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.08NOK 19.40
$1.20MX$20.32
73.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$16.36NOK 152
$4.63MX$78.2
253.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.07NOK 177
$10.69MX$180
78.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.70NOK 34.44
$1.62MX$27.33
128.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.10NOK 38.15
$2.88MX$48.63
42.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Tonsberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.92NOK 45.82
$0.57MX$9.68
763.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$84.9NOK 790
$29.83MX$503
184.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.44NOK 97.1
$5.45MX$91.9
91.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.75NOK 16.28
$3.70MX$62.5
-52.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$77.6NOK 722
$5.98MX$101
1196.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.63NOK 24.45
$1.55MX$26.22
69.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.2KNOK 430.4K
$22.3KMX$376.8K
107.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.9KNOK 381.0K
$25.9KMX$438.0K
57.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tonsberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$278NOK 2,584
$89.1MX$1,504
211.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.56NOK 303
$25.04MX$423
30.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.9NOK 520
$31.50MX$532
77.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tonsberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.71NOK 453
$67.8MX$1,144
-28.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$42.76NOK 398
$28.92MX$488
47.86%
Cinema Ticket
$18.06NOK 168
$5.05MX$85.2
257.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tonsberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$233NOK 2,170
$225MX$3,797
3.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5KNOK 107.2K
$4,222MX$71.3K
172.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tonsberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.0NOK 837
$47.44MX$801
89.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.5NOK 582
$44.98MX$759
38.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$144NOK 1,338
$82.0MX$1,384
75.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144NOK 1,341
$92.1MX$1,555
56.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tonsberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,239NOK 11.5K
$1,069MX$18.0K
15.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$995NOK 9,258
$405MX$6,842
145.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,511NOK 14.1K
$1,935MX$32.7K
-21.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,285NOK 12.0K
$1,301MX$22.0K
-1.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,490NOK 60.4K
$3,995MX$67.4K
62.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,779NOK 44.5K
$6,626MX$111.8K
-27.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tonsberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,667NOK 43.4K
$749MX$12.6K
523.34%
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 Tonsberg: August 29, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,239 in Tonsberg 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.
💰Salaries run about 523% higher in Tonsberg, 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 $107 in Tonsberg versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $492 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
Tonsberg vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Tonsberg?
Yes – Tonsberg is pricier by about 109%, 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 $4,053 per month in Tonsberg 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 Tonsberg and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,702 in Tonsberg 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 185% 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 Tonsberg 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 Tonsberg at $2,702. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Tonsberg it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tonsberg 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, Tonsberg 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, Tonsberg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.