😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,753 in Eskilstuna versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,681 in Eskilstuna versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,610 in Eskilstuna versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Eskilstuna is roughly 39% 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
$13.35SEK 129
$11.72MX$204
13.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.3SEK 668
$41.89MX$731
65.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.39SEK 100
$10.51MX$183
-1.14%
Cappuccino
$4.55SEK 43.85
$3.59MX$62.5
26.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71SEK 26.15
$1.51MX$26.31
79.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43SEK 23.39
$0.92MX$15.96
164.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.21SEK 69.5
$2.96MX$51.6
143.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.37SEK 71.0
$4.41MX$76.9
67.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Eskilstuna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.52SEK 14.66
$1.40MX$24.35
8.57%
White Bread(500g)
$3.07SEK 29.57
$1.88MX$32.87
63.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.45SEK 33.30
$1.56MX$27.19
121.15%
Eggs
$4.07SEK 39.25
$2.61MX$45.50
55.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.20SEK 137
$8.32MX$145
70.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.81SEK 114
$8.35MX$146
41.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.68SEK 132
$10.86MX$189
25.97%
Apples(1kg)
$3.45SEK 33.23
$2.71MX$47.31
27.31%
Banana(1kg)
$2.69SEK 25.94
$1.51MX$26.25
78.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.67SEK 25.77
$1.87MX$32.67
42.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.96SEK 38.18
$2.19MX$38.19
80.82%
Potato(1kg)
$1.51SEK 14.54
$1.86MX$32.40
-18.82%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10SEK 20.20
$2.23MX$38.90
-5.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.79SEK 26.92
$1.07MX$18.63
160.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73SEK 16.70
$1.09MX$18.94
58.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.37SEK 71.0
$4.19MX$73.0
75.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.29SEK 79.9
$10.43MX$182
-20.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.38SEK 22.95
$1.66MX$28.91
43.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98SEK 19.12
$2.61MX$45.56
-24.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Eskilstuna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.39SEK 32.70
$0.54MX$9.45
527.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$69.1SEK 666
$26.16MX$456
164.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.64SEK 64.0
$3.08MX$53.7
115.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.19SEK 11.48
$2.40MX$41.94
-50.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$62.0SEK 597
$3.13MX$54.5
1879.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.98SEK 19.13
$1.31MX$22.87
51.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8KSEK 316.1K
$29.8KMX$519.9K
10.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5KSEK 332.8K
$23.3KMX$406.8K
48.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Eskilstuna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$90.6SEK 873
$81.3MX$1,418
11.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.35SEK 273
$22.56MX$393
25.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.87SEK 355
$30.05MX$524
22.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Eskilstuna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.10SEK 252
$52.9MX$923
-50.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.39SEK 245
$18.39MX$321
38.06%
Cinema Ticket
$11.54SEK 111
$4.92MX$85.8
134.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Eskilstuna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$128SEK 1,233
$201MX$3,502
-36.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$725SEK 6,990
$5,175MX$90.2K
-85.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Eskilstuna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105SEK 1,009
$35.92MX$627
191.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.92SEK 308
$40.13MX$700
-20.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.5SEK 911
$79.7MX$1,390
18.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156SEK 1,500
$86.5MX$1,508
79.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Eskilstuna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$728SEK 7,022
$978MX$17.1K
-25.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$642SEK 6,187
$470MX$8,206
36.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,231SEK 11.9K
$1,651MX$28.8K
-25.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,073SEK 10.3K
$1,203MX$21.0K
-10.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,191SEK 40.4K
$3,953MX$69.0K
6.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,827SEK 27.3K
$6,607MX$115.2K
-57.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Eskilstuna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,148SEK 40.0K
$677MX$11.8K
513.07%
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: July 26, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $728 in Eskilstuna and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Eskilstuna pays 513% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $356 vs $252 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 39% 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 513% 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: $728 in Eskilstuna versus $978 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 $1,753 per month in Eskilstuna versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – a 39% 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 164% 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 $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,753 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 $1,260 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 39% 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