😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,826 in Eskilstuna versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,807 in Eskilstuna versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,789 in Eskilstuna versus $3,362 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Eskilstuna is roughly 40% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Eskilstuna is 32% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Eskilstuna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.20SEK 138
$11.96MX$203
18.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.0SEK 659
$47.38MX$804
43.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.57SEK 103
$11.75MX$199
-10.04%
Cappuccino
$4.58SEK 44.41
$4.12MX$70.0
11.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67SEK 25.90
$1.40MX$23.74
90.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31SEK 22.37
$0.91MX$15.48
153.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.18SEK 50.2
$3.21MX$54.4
61.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.26SEK 51.0
$7.07MX$120
-25.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Eskilstuna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.45SEK 14.05
$1.68MX$28.44
-13.69%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25SEK 31.51
$2.15MX$36.48
51.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.55SEK 34.39
$1.77MX$30.10
100.56%
Eggs
$4.27SEK 41.44
$2.82MX$47.76
51.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.20SEK 138
$9.20MX$156
54.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.95SEK 126
$9.23MX$157
40.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.40SEK 130
$12.64MX$214
6.01%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24SEK 31.44
$2.95MX$50.1
9.83%
Banana(1kg)
$2.67SEK 25.87
$1.58MX$26.79
68.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.53SEK 24.49
$2.22MX$37.70
13.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.84SEK 37.26
$2.36MX$40.09
62.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.50SEK 14.53
$1.99MX$33.81
-24.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.77SEK 17.15
$1.98MX$33.58
-10.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.30SEK 32.01
$1.24MX$21.04
166.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.81SEK 17.50
$1.21MX$20.55
49.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.28SEK 70.6
$4.60MX$78.1
58.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.51SEK 82.5
$10.52MX$178
-19.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98SEK 19.24
$1.69MX$28.70
17.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36SEK 22.86
$2.77MX$47.06
-14.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Eskilstuna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.19SEK 30.96
$0.60MX$10.22
431.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$69.2SEK 670
$29.70MX$504
132.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$13.74SEK 133
$5.24MX$88.8
162.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04SEK 19.74
$3.65MX$61.9
-44.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$82.4SEK 799
$5.78MX$98.1
1325.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.83SEK 17.75
$1.54MX$26.09
18.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.9KSEK 328.5K
$22.8KMX$386.8K
48.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4KSEK 324.0K
$25.8KMX$437.9K
29.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Eskilstuna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$179SEK 1,737
$90.7MX$1,538
97.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.13SEK 263
$25.19MX$427
7.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.19SEK 380
$31.75MX$539
23.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Eskilstuna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.55SEK 248
$68.8MX$1,167
-62.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.57SEK 228
$29.37MX$498
-19.75%
Cinema Ticket
$11.29SEK 109
$4.86MX$82.5
132.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Eskilstuna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$156SEK 1,513
$226MX$3,828
-30.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,001SEK 48.5K
$4,194MX$71.1K
19.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Eskilstuna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101SEK 979
$47.38MX$804
113.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.79SEK 298
$43.45MX$737
-29.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.4SEK 895
$80.2MX$1,361
15.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156SEK 1,513
$91.4MX$1,550
70.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Eskilstuna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$835SEK 8,095
$1,086MX$18.4K
-23.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$612SEK 5,935
$409MX$6,933
49.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,198SEK 11.6K
$1,972MX$33.5K
-39.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,043SEK 10.1K
$1,281MX$21.7K
-18.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,142SEK 40.2K
$4,046MX$68.6K
2.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,901SEK 28.1K
$6,704MX$113.7K
-56.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Eskilstuna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,323SEK 41.9K
$773MX$13.1K
459.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.2
11.45
-72.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Eskilstuna: September 6, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $835 in Eskilstuna and $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Eskilstuna pays 459% 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: $68.0 in Eskilstuna vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $362 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
Eskilstuna vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Eskilstuna or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 40% lower than in Eskilstuna. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Eskilstuna or in Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 459% higher in Eskilstuna, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Eskilstuna compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $835 in Eskilstuna versus $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Eskilstuna compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,826 per month in Eskilstuna versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Eskilstuna compared to Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 133% less than in Eskilstuna. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Eskilstuna or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,826 in Eskilstuna, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Eskilstuna. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Eskilstuna or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,305 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Eskilstuna compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Eskilstuna 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Eskilstuna. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Eskilstuna vs other spots: cost of living compared