😐A single person spends $2,776 per month in Trondheim vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,121 per month in Trondheim vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,465 per month in Trondheim vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Trondheim costs about 118% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Trondheim sits 107% 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
$22.39NOK 213
$11.87MX$204
88.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$119NOK 1,131
$42.90MX$736
177.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.04NOK 133
$10.65MX$183
31.83%
Cappuccino
$4.72NOK 44.83
$3.45MX$59.2
36.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62NOK 34.35
$1.50MX$25.81
141.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94NOK 27.88
$0.95MX$16.28
209.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.68NOK 101
$3.03MX$51.9
252.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$11.73NOK 111
$4.61MX$79.1
154.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Trondheim
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.64NOK 25.03
$1.38MX$23.61
91.30%
White Bread(500g)
$3.52NOK 33.36
$1.85MX$31.70
90.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.96NOK 37.59
$1.61MX$27.65
145.96%
Eggs
$4.56NOK 43.28
$2.59MX$44.51
76.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.35NOK 117
$8.26MX$142
49.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.21NOK 144
$8.37MX$144
81.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.37NOK 269
$10.66MX$183
166.14%
Apples(1kg)
$3.78NOK 35.84
$2.63MX$45.12
43.73%
Banana(1kg)
$2.83NOK 26.84
$1.49MX$25.53
89.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.64NOK 25.01
$1.92MX$32.94
37.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.31NOK 50.4
$2.09MX$35.81
154.07%
Potato(1kg)
$2.87NOK 27.27
$1.86MX$31.88
54.30%
Onion(1kg)
$3.18NOK 30.19
$2.26MX$38.81
40.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.24NOK 30.73
$1.06MX$18.23
205.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52NOK 23.97
$1.09MX$18.67
131.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.32NOK 145
$4.15MX$71.2
269.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.36NOK 174
$10.39MX$178
76.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.72NOK 35.28
$1.72MX$29.59
116.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.83NOK 45.88
$2.61MX$44.85
85.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Trondheim
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.75NOK 45.11
$0.54MX$9.30
779.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$93.7NOK 889
$26.94MX$462
247.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$14.89NOK 141
$3.13MX$53.7
375.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19NOK 20.78
$2.51MX$43.09
-12.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$87.8NOK 833
$3.15MX$54.1
2686.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.22NOK 21.08
$1.27MX$21.88
74.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2KNOK 306.0K
$30.4KMX$521.3K
6.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.5KNOK 403.0K
$23.6KMX$404.5K
80.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Trondheim
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$328NOK 3,118
$83.0MX$1,425
295.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.15NOK 410
$22.71MX$390
90.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.0NOK 712
$29.46MX$506
154.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Trondheim
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.27NOK 401
$51.0MX$875
-17.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$46.32NOK 440
$18.33MX$315
152.70%
Cinema Ticket
$17.14NOK 163
$4.93MX$84.5
247.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Trondheim
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$322NOK 3,059
$197MX$3,386
63.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,553NOK 81.2K
$5,280MX$90.6K
61.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Trondheim
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$113NOK 1,076
$36.90MX$633
207.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.89NOK 455
$39.89MX$685
20.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$126NOK 1,195
$80.0MX$1,373
57.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$134NOK 1,269
$89.5MX$1,536
49.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Trondheim
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,396NOK 13.2K
$956MX$16.4K
45.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,055NOK 10.0K
$477MX$8,189
121.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,233NOK 21.2K
$1,646MX$28.3K
35.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,689NOK 16.0K
$1,225MX$21.0K
37.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,157NOK 58.4K
$3,918MX$67.2K
57.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,848NOK 46.0K
$6,459MX$110.9K
-24.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Trondheim
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,264NOK 40.5K
$667MX$11.4K
539.30%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,396 in Trondheim versus $956 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 539% 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 $119 in Trondheim versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $490 vs $250 – 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 $4,164 per month in Trondheim and $1,906 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,776 in Trondheim and $1,271 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 248% 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 Trondheim or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,271, than in Trondheim at $2,776. 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.