😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,778 in Fagersta versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,787 in Fagersta versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,796 in Fagersta versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Fagersta is roughly 38% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Fagersta is 33% above, Playa del Carmen is 4% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fagersta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.35SEK 124
$11.94MX$209
11.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.3SEK 626
$42.75MX$748
57.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.49SEK 97.6
$10.59MX$185
-0.94%
Cappuccino
$4.62SEK 42.99
$3.62MX$63.4
27.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75SEK 25.56
$1.47MX$25.69
87.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46SEK 22.91
$0.94MX$16.51
161.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.54SEK 70.2
$3.09MX$54.1
144.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.58SEK 70.5
$4.46MX$78.0
69.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fagersta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.84SEK 17.15
$1.43MX$24.94
28.67%
White Bread(500g)
$3.22SEK 29.98
$1.88MX$32.97
71.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.97SEK 36.90
$1.63MX$28.50
143.56%
Eggs
$4.01SEK 37.25
$2.64MX$46.26
51.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.13SEK 131
$8.21MX$144
72.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.90SEK 111
$8.29MX$145
43.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.94SEK 148
$11.10MX$194
43.60%
Apples(1kg)
$3.63SEK 33.79
$2.65MX$46.40
36.98%
Banana(1kg)
$2.58SEK 24.03
$1.50MX$26.26
72.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62SEK 15.06
$1.99MX$34.79
-18.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.75SEK 53.5
$2.08MX$36.33
176.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55SEK 14.40
$1.79MX$31.29
-13.41%
Onion(1kg)
$2.14SEK 19.88
$2.18MX$38.09
-1.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.78SEK 25.90
$1.08MX$18.84
157.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66SEK 15.45
$1.04MX$18.15
59.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.16SEK 66.6
$3.97MX$69.5
80.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.78SEK 119
$10.20MX$179
25.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80SEK 16.76
$1.73MX$30.22
4.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99SEK 18.48
$2.50MX$43.71
-20.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Fagersta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.45SEK 32.07
$0.52MX$9.07
563.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$72.9SEK 678
$26.97MX$472
170.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.76SEK 53.6
$3.14MX$55.0
83.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.58SEK 14.70
$2.40MX$42.04
-34.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.04SEK 196
$3.09MX$54.0
580.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.00SEK 18.56
$1.27MX$22.28
57.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4KSEK 301.6K
$30.9KMX$540.4K
5.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6KSEK 312.7K
$23.3KMX$408.0K
44.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fagersta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.4SEK 831
$82.0MX$1,435
9.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.88SEK 259
$22.45MX$393
24.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.15SEK 345
$29.66MX$519
25.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fagersta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.91SEK 380
$51.9MX$908
-21.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.96SEK 232
$18.67MX$327
33.69%
Cinema Ticket
$15.60SEK 145
$4.97MX$87.0
213.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fagersta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$145SEK 1,352
$198MX$3,462
-26.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$738SEK 6,862
$5,273MX$92.3K
-86.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fagersta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105SEK 975
$36.34MX$636
188.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.33SEK 412
$40.05MX$701
10.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118SEK 1,099
$79.9MX$1,398
47.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153SEK 1,423
$88.9MX$1,555
72.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fagersta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$827SEK 7,688
$963MX$16.9K
-14.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$652SEK 6,059
$465MX$8,133
40.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,398SEK 13.0K
$1,596MX$27.9K
-12.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,093SEK 10.2K
$1,209MX$21.2K
-9.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,792SEK 35.3K
$3,942MX$69.0K
-3.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,024SEK 28.1K
$6,448MX$112.8K
-53.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fagersta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$720MX$12.6K
-
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 Fagersta: April 26, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $827 in Fagersta and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $67.0 in Fagersta vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $380 vs $251 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
Fagersta vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Fagersta or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 38% lower than in Fagersta. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Fagersta vs Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $2,666 in Fagersta and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Fagersta vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $827 in Fagersta versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Fagersta or Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 51% higher in Fagersta. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Fagersta vs Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $67.0 in Fagersta. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Fagersta or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,778 in Fagersta, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Fagersta. 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, Fagersta or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,287 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 Fagersta compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Fagersta 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 38% less than in Fagersta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.