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

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$14.20 SEK 138
$11.96 MX$203
18.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.0 SEK 659
$47.38 MX$804
43.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.57 SEK 103
$11.75 MX$199
-10.04%
Cappuccino
$4.58 SEK 44.41
$4.12 MX$70.0
11.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 SEK 25.90
$1.40 MX$23.74
90.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 SEK 22.37
$0.91 MX$15.48
153.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.18 SEK 50.2
$3.21 MX$54.4
61.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.26 SEK 51.0
$7.07 MX$120
-25.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Eskilstuna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 SEK 14.05
$1.68 MX$28.44
-13.69%
White Bread (500g)
$3.25 SEK 31.51
$2.15 MX$36.48
51.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.55 SEK 34.39
$1.77 MX$30.10
100.56%
Eggs
$4.27 SEK 41.44
$2.82 MX$47.76
51.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.20 SEK 138
$9.20 MX$156
54.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.95 SEK 126
$9.23 MX$157
40.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.40 SEK 130
$12.64 MX$214
6.01%
Apples (1kg)
$3.24 SEK 31.44
$2.95 MX$50.1
9.83%
Banana (1kg)
$2.67 SEK 25.87
$1.58 MX$26.79
68.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.53 SEK 24.49
$2.22 MX$37.70
13.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.84 SEK 37.26
$2.36 MX$40.09
62.71%
Potato (1kg)
$1.50 SEK 14.53
$1.99 MX$33.81
-24.62%
Onion (1kg)
$1.77 SEK 17.15
$1.98 MX$33.58
-10.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.30 SEK 32.01
$1.24 MX$21.04
166.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.81 SEK 17.50
$1.21 MX$20.55
49.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.28 SEK 70.6
$4.60 MX$78.1
58.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.51 SEK 82.5
$10.52 MX$178
-19.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 SEK 19.24
$1.69 MX$28.70
17.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 SEK 22.86
$2.77 MX$47.06
-14.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Eskilstuna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.19 SEK 30.96
$0.60 MX$10.22
431.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$69.2 SEK 670
$29.70 MX$504
132.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$13.74 SEK 133
$5.24 MX$88.8
162.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.04 SEK 19.74
$3.65 MX$61.9
-44.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$82.4 SEK 799
$5.78 MX$98.1
1325.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.83 SEK 17.75
$1.54 MX$26.09
18.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.9K SEK 328.5K
$22.8K MX$386.8K
48.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K SEK 324.0K
$25.8K MX$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)
$179 SEK 1,737
$90.7 MX$1,538
97.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.13 SEK 263
$25.19 MX$427
7.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.19 SEK 380
$31.75 MX$539
23.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Eskilstuna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.55 SEK 248
$68.8 MX$1,167
-62.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.57 SEK 228
$29.37 MX$498
-19.75%
Cinema Ticket
$11.29 SEK 109
$4.86 MX$82.5
132.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Eskilstuna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$156 SEK 1,513
$226 MX$3,828
-30.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,001 SEK 48.5K
$4,194 MX$71.1K
19.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Eskilstuna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 SEK 979
$47.38 MX$804
113.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.79 SEK 298
$43.45 MX$737
-29.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.4 SEK 895
$80.2 MX$1,361
15.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156 SEK 1,513
$91.4 MX$1,550
70.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Eskilstuna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$835 SEK 8,095
$1,086 MX$18.4K
-23.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$612 SEK 5,935
$409 MX$6,933
49.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,198 SEK 11.6K
$1,972 MX$33.5K
-39.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,043 SEK 10.1K
$1,281 MX$21.7K
-18.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,142 SEK 40.2K
$4,046 MX$68.6K
2.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,901 SEK 28.1K
$6,704 MX$113.7K
-56.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Eskilstuna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,323 SEK 41.9K
$773 MX$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.

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