😐A single person spends $2,478 per month in Tonsberg vs $1,259 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,681 per month in Tonsberg vs $2,177 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,885 per month in Tonsberg vs $3,095 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Tonsberg costs about 97% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Tonsberg sits 85% 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
$25.36NOK 243
$11.95MX$208
112.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102NOK 980
$41.94MX$730
143.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.89NOK 133
$10.42MX$181
33.30%
Cappuccino
$4.79NOK 45.97
$3.51MX$61.2
36.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.15NOK 49.42
$1.52MX$26.39
238.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.94NOK 47.35
$0.91MX$15.84
442.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.96NOK 95.5
$3.04MX$52.9
227.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.66NOK 92.6
$4.37MX$76.1
121.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tonsberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.21NOK 21.15
$1.42MX$24.73
55.63%
White Bread(500g)
$3.39NOK 32.51
$1.83MX$31.87
85.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.20NOK 30.70
$1.63MX$28.45
96.32%
Eggs
$4.33NOK 41.49
$2.54MX$44.20
70.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.95NOK 115
$8.57MX$149
39.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.90NOK 143
$8.49MX$148
75.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.98NOK 268
$10.80MX$188
159.07%
Apples(1kg)
$3.52NOK 33.80
$2.75MX$47.94
28.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.41NOK 23.09
$1.44MX$25.00
67.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.25NOK 31.20
$1.89MX$32.83
71.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.41NOK 42.26
$2.17MX$37.77
103.23%
Potato(1kg)
$2.45NOK 23.46
$1.78MX$30.97
37.64%
Onion(1kg)
$2.47NOK 23.66
$2.22MX$38.71
11.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.74NOK 26.24
$1.07MX$18.60
156.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.91NOK 18.33
$1.08MX$18.79
76.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.95NOK 143
$4.15MX$72.2
260.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.33NOK 185
$10.45MX$182
84.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.41NOK 32.66
$1.74MX$30.34
95.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13NOK 39.62
$2.58MX$44.92
60.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Tonsberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.18NOK 40.06
$0.51MX$8.94
719.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$72.3NOK 694
$25.94MX$451
178.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.16NOK 97.5
$3.21MX$55.9
216.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.40NOK 13.42
$2.50MX$43.55
-44.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$47.45NOK 455
$3.19MX$55.4
1387.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.10NOK 20.14
$1.26MX$21.87
66.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8KNOK 334.2K
$29.7KMX$516.6K
17.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7KNOK 371.6K
$23.7KMX$412.1K
63.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tonsberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$237NOK 2,272
$82.0MX$1,427
188.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.87NOK 363
$22.73MX$395
66.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.3NOK 521
$29.42MX$512
84.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tonsberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.98NOK 479
$52.2MX$908
-4.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.76NOK 343
$18.45MX$321
93.82%
Cinema Ticket
$16.26NOK 156
$4.93MX$85.9
229.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tonsberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$285NOK 2,734
$202MX$3,511
41.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.0KNOK 96.1K
$5,217MX$90.8K
92.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tonsberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.0NOK 921
$35.93MX$625
167.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.9NOK 498
$40.33MX$702
28.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110NOK 1,052
$79.9MX$1,390
37.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152NOK 1,462
$89.3MX$1,554
70.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tonsberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,226NOK 11.8K
$948MX$16.5K
29.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$935NOK 8,966
$465MX$8,097
100.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,438NOK 13.8K
$1,630MX$28.4K
-11.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203NOK 11.5K
$1,193MX$20.8K
0.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,119NOK 49.1K
$3,933MX$68.4K
30.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,108NOK 39.4K
$6,428MX$111.9K
-36.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tonsberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,407NOK 42.3K
$658MX$11.5K
569.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.38
11.42
-61.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tonsberg: July 21, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,226 in Tonsberg versus $948 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 569% 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 $102 in Tonsberg versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $458 vs $252 – 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 97%, 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 $3,717 per month in Tonsberg and $1,888 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 $2,478 in Tonsberg and $1,259 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 179% 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 $1,259, than in Tonsberg at $2,478. 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.