Cost of Living Comparison Between Boras and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Boras and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,955 in Boras versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,309 in Boras versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,663 in Boras versus $3,362 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Boras is roughly 50% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Boras is 42% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.41 SEK 130

$11.96 MX$203

12.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$91.9 SEK 891

$47.38 MX$804

93.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.37 SEK 101

$11.75 MX$199

-11.74%

Cappuccino

$4.35 SEK 42.15

$4.12 MX$70.0

5.58%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 SEK 21.08

$1.40 MX$23.74

55.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 SEK 20.47

$0.91 MX$15.48

131.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.20 SEK 69.8

$3.21 MX$54.4

124.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.09 SEK 68.7

$7.07 MX$120

0.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 SEK 16.86

$1.68 MX$28.44

3.57%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 SEK 27.60

$2.15 MX$36.48

32.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.09 SEK 29.95

$1.77 MX$30.10

74.58%

Eggs

$4.59 SEK 44.52

$2.82 MX$47.76

62.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.58 SEK 122

$9.20 MX$156

36.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.08 SEK 117

$9.23 MX$157

30.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.49 SEK 170

$12.64 MX$214

38.37%

Apples (1kg)

$3.14 SEK 30.41

$2.95 MX$50.1

6.44%

Banana (1kg)

$2.78 SEK 26.96

$1.58 MX$26.79

75.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.93 SEK 28.37

$2.22 MX$37.70

31.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.73 SEK 36.13

$2.36 MX$40.09

58.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 SEK 14.71

$1.99 MX$33.81

-23.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 SEK 14.35

$1.98 MX$33.58

-25.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.36 SEK 22.86

$1.24 MX$21.04

90.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 SEK 14.04

$1.21 MX$20.55

19.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.03 SEK 68.1

$4.60 MX$78.1

52.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.48 SEK 82.2

$10.52 MX$178

-19.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 SEK 17.79

$1.69 MX$28.70

8.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 SEK 16.56

$2.77 MX$47.06

-38.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.79 SEK 36.78

$0.60 MX$10.22

531.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$81.7 SEK 792

$29.70 MX$504

174.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.09 SEK 49.38

$5.24 MX$88.8

-2.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.13 SEK 10.93

$3.65 MX$61.9

-69.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$43.04 SEK 417

$5.78 MX$98.1

644.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.87 SEK 18.08

$1.54 MX$26.09

21.43%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.2K SEK 253.8K

$22.8K MX$386.8K

14.83%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$15.5K SEK 150.7K

$25.8K MX$437.9K

-39.79%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$62.4 SEK 604

$90.7 MX$1,538

-31.23%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$31.71 SEK 307

$25.19 MX$427

25.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.22 SEK 400

$31.75 MX$539

29.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.00 SEK 349

$68.8 MX$1,167

-47.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.08 SEK 253

$29.37 MX$498

-11.20%

Cinema Ticket

$15.44 SEK 150

$4.86 MX$82.5

217.70%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$166 SEK 1,605

$226 MX$3,828

-26.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,194 MX$71.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.3 SEK 507

$47.38 MX$804

10.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 SEK 501

$43.45 MX$737

18.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.3 SEK 807

$80.2 MX$1,361

3.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 SEK 991

$91.4 MX$1,550

11.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,086 MX$18.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$902 SEK 8,740

$409 MX$6,933

120.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,972 MX$33.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,281 MX$21.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,046 MX$68.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,704 MX$113.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,469 SEK 23.9K

$773 MX$13.1K

219.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.8

11.45

-58.08%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Boras: September 6, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Boras pays 219% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $92.0 in Boras vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $354 vs $278 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

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

Boras vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 50% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 219% higher in Boras, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

All in, you'll spend $1,955 per month in Boras versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen – a 50% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 175% less than in Boras. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,955 in Boras, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Boras. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Boras, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Boras and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 50% less than in Boras. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.