😐A single person spends $3,009 per month in Trondheim vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,335 per month in Trondheim vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,661 per month in Trondheim vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Trondheim costs about 138% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Trondheim sits 120% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Trondheim
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.98NOK 198
$11.60MX$200
80.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$110NOK 1,036
$47.11MX$812
133.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.84NOK 149
$11.88MX$205
33.33%
Cappuccino
$5.62NOK 52.9
$3.98MX$68.6
41.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.77NOK 54.4
$1.43MX$24.60
303.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37NOK 41.15
$0.82MX$14.22
432.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$13.62NOK 128
$3.19MX$55.0
326.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$13.21NOK 124
$6.79MX$117
94.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Trondheim
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.59NOK 24.38
$1.68MX$28.89
54.17%
White Bread(500g)
$3.55NOK 33.49
$2.20MX$37.88
61.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.90NOK 36.79
$1.71MX$29.45
128.07%
Eggs
$4.88NOK 46.01
$2.74MX$47.26
78.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49NOK 127
$9.58MX$165
40.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.46NOK 155
$9.01MX$155
82.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$32.40NOK 305
$12.81MX$221
152.93%
Apples(1kg)
$3.89NOK 36.66
$2.89MX$49.81
34.60%
Banana(1kg)
$2.94NOK 27.67
$1.50MX$25.81
96.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.00NOK 37.69
$2.15MX$37.03
86.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.77NOK 54.3
$2.26MX$38.96
155.31%
Potato(1kg)
$2.89NOK 27.23
$1.98MX$34.15
45.96%
Onion(1kg)
$3.14NOK 29.57
$1.99MX$34.30
57.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.87NOK 27.07
$1.23MX$21.28
133.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.25NOK 21.23
$1.20MX$20.63
87.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.01NOK 170
$4.55MX$78.5
295.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.22NOK 181
$10.37MX$179
85.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.54NOK 33.33
$1.62MX$27.91
118.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69NOK 44.19
$2.88MX$49.67
62.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Trondheim
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.88NOK 46.00
$0.60MX$10.35
713.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$102NOK 963
$28.80MX$497
254.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.49NOK 89.4
$5.39MX$92.9
76.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.61NOK 15.15
$3.73MX$64.3
-56.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.3NOK 577
$5.77MX$99.5
961.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.38NOK 22.41
$1.54MX$26.48
54.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$47.1KNOK 444.0K
$22.5KMX$388.8K
108.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$46.4KNOK 437.1K
$26.1KMX$449.3K
78.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Trondheim
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$282NOK 2,655
$91.4MX$1,576
208.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.46NOK 344
$25.20MX$435
44.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$83.6NOK 787
$31.24MX$539
167.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Trondheim
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.16NOK 416
$67.2MX$1,159
-34.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.28NOK 389
$29.11MX$502
41.81%
Cinema Ticket
$21.08NOK 199
$4.86MX$83.8
333.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Trondheim
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304NOK 2,861
$224MX$3,856
35.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,455NOK 42.0K
$4,229MX$72.9K
5.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Trondheim
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$110NOK 1,040
$47.10MX$812
134.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.7NOK 496
$44.29MX$764
18.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124NOK 1,172
$80.1MX$1,381
55.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158NOK 1,485
$92.7MX$1,598
70.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Trondheim
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,496NOK 14.1K
$1,063MX$18.3K
40.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236NOK 11.6K
$390MX$6,728
216.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,253NOK 21.2K
$2,149MX$37.1K
4.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,690NOK 15.9K
$1,272MX$21.9K
32.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,555NOK 61.8K
$4,001MX$69.0K
63.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,105NOK 48.1K
$6,502MX$112.1K
-21.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Trondheim
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,338NOK 40.9K
$758MX$13.1K
472.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.32
11.45
-53.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Trondheim: September 12, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,496 in Trondheim versus $1,063 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 472% 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 $110 in Trondheim versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $517 vs $276 – 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 138%, 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 $4,513 per month in Trondheim and $1,899 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 $3,009 in Trondheim and $1,266 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 255% 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 $1,266, than in Trondheim at $3,009. 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.