😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,722 in Eskilstuna versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,646 in Eskilstuna versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,570 in Eskilstuna versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Eskilstuna is roughly 35% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Eskilstuna is 28% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Eskilstuna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.25SEK 124
$11.87MX$204
11.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.6SEK 644
$42.90MX$736
59.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.50SEK 98.5
$10.65MX$183
-1.41%
Cappuccino
$4.64SEK 43.48
$3.45MX$59.2
34.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77SEK 26.03
$1.50MX$25.81
84.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41SEK 22.56
$0.95MX$16.28
153.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.28SEK 68.3
$3.03MX$51.9
140.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.29SEK 68.4
$4.61MX$79.1
58.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Eskilstuna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.52SEK 14.24
$1.38MX$23.61
10.14%
White Bread(500g)
$3.05SEK 28.61
$1.85MX$31.70
64.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.43SEK 32.13
$1.61MX$27.65
113.04%
Eggs
$3.99SEK 37.44
$2.59MX$44.51
54.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.20SEK 133
$8.26MX$142
71.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.73SEK 110
$8.37MX$144
40.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.61SEK 128
$10.66MX$183
27.67%
Apples(1kg)
$3.34SEK 31.32
$2.63MX$45.12
27.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.71SEK 25.43
$1.49MX$25.53
81.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.56SEK 24.03
$1.92MX$32.94
33.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.91SEK 36.72
$2.09MX$35.81
87.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.49SEK 13.95
$1.86MX$31.88
-19.89%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12SEK 19.93
$2.26MX$38.81
-6.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.69SEK 25.23
$1.06MX$18.23
153.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.69SEK 15.86
$1.09MX$18.67
55.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.46SEK 70.0
$4.15MX$71.2
79.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.58SEK 80.5
$10.39MX$178
-17.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42SEK 22.66
$1.72MX$29.59
40.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90SEK 17.85
$2.61MX$44.85
-27.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Eskilstuna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.38SEK 31.74
$0.54MX$9.30
525.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$67.8SEK 636
$26.94MX$462
151.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.52SEK 61.2
$3.13MX$53.7
108.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.22SEK 11.48
$2.51MX$43.09
-51.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$60.7SEK 570
$3.15MX$54.1
1827.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.97SEK 18.49
$1.27MX$21.88
55.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2KSEK 311.0K
$30.4KMX$521.3K
9.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KSEK 323.0K
$23.6KMX$404.5K
46.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Eskilstuna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.2SEK 856
$83.0MX$1,425
9.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.02SEK 263
$22.71MX$390
23.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.73SEK 345
$29.46MX$506
24.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Eskilstuna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.21SEK 246
$51.0MX$875
-48.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.22SEK 237
$18.33MX$315
37.59%
Cinema Ticket
$11.72SEK 110
$4.93MX$84.5
137.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Eskilstuna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$126SEK 1,185
$197MX$3,386
-35.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$727SEK 6,823
$5,280MX$90.6K
-86.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Eskilstuna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103SEK 965
$36.90MX$633
178.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.77SEK 298
$39.89MX$685
-20.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.6SEK 888
$80.0MX$1,373
18.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156SEK 1,465
$89.5MX$1,536
74.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Eskilstuna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$727SEK 6,817
$956MX$16.4K
-24.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$632SEK 5,932
$477MX$8,189
32.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,217SEK 11.4K
$1,646MX$28.3K
-26.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,058SEK 9,924
$1,225MX$21.0K
-13.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,165SEK 29.7K
$3,918MX$67.2K
-19.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,685SEK 25.2K
$6,459MX$110.9K
-58.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Eskilstuna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,274SEK 40.1K
$667MX$11.4K
540.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.53
11.42
-60.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Eskilstuna: June 7, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $727 in Eskilstuna and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Eskilstuna pays 541% 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: $69.0 in Eskilstuna vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $353 vs $250 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 35% 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 Playa del Carmen?
Eskilstuna pays 541% more on average, 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $727 in Eskilstuna versus $956 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 $1,722 per month in Eskilstuna versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen – a 35% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Eskilstuna vs Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 152% 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 Playa del Carmen?
At $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,722 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 $1,271 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 35% 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