😐A single person spends $2,745 per month in Trondheim vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,170 per month in Trondheim vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,595 per month in Trondheim vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Trondheim costs about 118% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Trondheim sits 106% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Trondheim
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.21NOK 211
$11.72MX$203
89.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$123NOK 1,162
$41.89MX$725
192.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.44NOK 137
$10.51MX$182
37.39%
Cappuccino
$4.82NOK 45.75
$3.59MX$62.0
34.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67NOK 34.84
$1.51MX$26.10
143.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99NOK 28.34
$0.92MX$15.83
225.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.80NOK 102
$2.96MX$51.2
264.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.45NOK 109
$4.41MX$76.3
159.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Trondheim
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.51NOK 23.79
$1.40MX$24.16
79.29%
White Bread(500g)
$3.65NOK 34.58
$1.88MX$32.60
94.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.86NOK 36.62
$1.56MX$26.97
147.44%
Eggs
$4.59NOK 43.49
$2.61MX$45.14
75.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.21NOK 116
$8.32MX$144
46.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.92NOK 141
$8.35MX$145
78.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.37NOK 269
$10.86MX$188
161.23%
Apples(1kg)
$3.77NOK 35.76
$2.71MX$46.93
39.11%
Banana(1kg)
$2.97NOK 28.21
$1.51MX$26.04
96.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.64NOK 25.00
$1.87MX$32.41
41.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.01NOK 47.50
$2.19MX$37.89
128.77%
Potato(1kg)
$2.97NOK 28.20
$1.86MX$32.14
59.68%
Onion(1kg)
$3.22NOK 30.53
$2.23MX$38.59
44.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.20NOK 30.33
$1.07MX$18.48
199.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.50NOK 23.68
$1.09MX$18.79
129.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.41NOK 146
$4.19MX$72.4
267.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.42NOK 175
$10.43MX$180
76.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.66NOK 34.68
$1.66MX$28.68
120.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.84NOK 45.87
$2.61MX$45.19
85.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Trondheim
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.57NOK 43.37
$0.54MX$9.37
746.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$93.7NOK 889
$26.16MX$453
258.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$15.40NOK 146
$3.08MX$53.3
400.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.26NOK 21.40
$2.40MX$41.61
-5.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$89.5NOK 848
$3.13MX$54.1
2758.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.12NOK 20.06
$1.31MX$22.69
61.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4KNOK 306.8K
$29.8KMX$515.7K
8.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.1KNOK 409.0K
$23.3KMX$403.5K
84.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Trondheim
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$323NOK 3,059
$81.3MX$1,406
296.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.23NOK 410
$22.56MX$390
91.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.7NOK 727
$30.05MX$520
155.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Trondheim
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.53NOK 403
$52.9MX$915
-19.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$46.79NOK 444
$18.39MX$318
154.43%
Cinema Ticket
$17.26NOK 164
$4.92MX$85.1
250.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Trondheim
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$321NOK 3,044
$201MX$3,474
59.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,375NOK 79.4K
$5,175MX$89.5K
61.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Trondheim
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110NOK 1,044
$35.92MX$622
206.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.48NOK 450
$40.13MX$694
18.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$128NOK 1,214
$79.7MX$1,379
60.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132NOK 1,248
$86.5MX$1,496
52.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Trondheim
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,371NOK 13.0K
$978MX$16.9K
40.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,079NOK 10.2K
$470MX$8,140
129.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,269NOK 21.5K
$1,651MX$28.6K
37.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,685NOK 16.0K
$1,203MX$20.8K
40.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,109NOK 57.9K
$3,953MX$68.4K
54.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,952NOK 47.0K
$6,607MX$114.3K
-25.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Trondheim
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,148NOK 39.3K
$677MX$11.7K
513.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.32
11.42
-62.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Trondheim: July 26, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,371 in Trondheim versus $978 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 513% higher in Trondheim, 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 $123 in Trondheim versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $487 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
Trondheim vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Trondheim?
Yes – Trondheim is pricier by about 118%, 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 $4,117 per month in Trondheim and $1,890 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 Trondheim and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,745 in Trondheim and $1,260 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 258% 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 Trondheim or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,260, than in Trondheim at $2,745. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Trondheim it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Trondheim 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, Trondheim 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, Trondheim makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.