😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,804 in Fagersta versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,833 in Fagersta versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,863 in Fagersta versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Fagersta is roughly 42% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Fagersta is 34% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fagersta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.43SEK 126
$11.87MX$204
13.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.1SEK 648
$42.90MX$736
61.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.53SEK 98.7
$10.65MX$183
-1.13%
Cappuccino
$4.51SEK 42.34
$3.45MX$59.2
30.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80SEK 26.26
$1.50MX$25.81
86.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47SEK 23.15
$0.95MX$16.28
160.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.52SEK 70.5
$3.03MX$51.9
148.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.59SEK 71.2
$4.61MX$79.1
64.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fagersta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.85SEK 17.37
$1.38MX$23.61
34.06%
White Bread(500g)
$3.16SEK 29.65
$1.85MX$31.70
70.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.93SEK 36.89
$1.61MX$27.65
144.10%
Eggs
$3.95SEK 37.03
$2.59MX$44.51
52.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.20SEK 133
$8.26MX$142
71.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.94SEK 112
$8.37MX$144
42.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.61SEK 146
$10.66MX$183
46.44%
Apples(1kg)
$3.67SEK 34.43
$2.63MX$45.12
39.54%
Banana(1kg)
$2.66SEK 24.96
$1.49MX$25.53
78.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.57SEK 14.68
$1.92MX$32.94
-18.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.62SEK 52.7
$2.09MX$35.81
168.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55SEK 14.52
$1.86MX$31.88
-16.67%
Onion(1kg)
$2.16SEK 20.29
$2.26MX$38.81
-4.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.77SEK 25.95
$1.06MX$18.23
161.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.74SEK 16.29
$1.09MX$18.67
59.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34SEK 68.8
$4.15MX$71.2
76.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.58SEK 99.3
$10.39MX$178
1.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70SEK 15.95
$1.72MX$29.59
-1.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91SEK 17.92
$2.61MX$44.85
-26.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Fagersta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.29SEK 30.84
$0.54MX$9.30
509.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$75.3SEK 706
$26.94MX$462
179.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.76SEK 54.1
$3.13MX$53.7
84.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.63SEK 15.29
$2.51MX$43.09
-35.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.23SEK 199
$3.15MX$54.1
573.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.00SEK 18.80
$1.27MX$21.88
57.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2KSEK 311.7K
$30.4KMX$521.3K
9.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6KSEK 315.4K
$23.6KMX$404.5K
42.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fagersta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4SEK 857
$83.0MX$1,425
10.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.96SEK 272
$22.71MX$390
27.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.23SEK 340
$29.46MX$506
22.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fagersta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.91SEK 384
$51.0MX$875
-19.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.02SEK 235
$18.33MX$315
36.50%
Cinema Ticket
$16.07SEK 151
$4.93MX$84.5
225.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fagersta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$147SEK 1,375
$197MX$3,386
-25.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$731SEK 6,860
$5,280MX$90.6K
-86.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fagersta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104SEK 978
$36.90MX$633
182.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.98SEK 413
$39.89MX$685
10.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114SEK 1,068
$80.0MX$1,373
42.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156SEK 1,461
$89.5MX$1,536
74.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fagersta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$837SEK 7,852
$956MX$16.4K
-12.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$657SEK 6,159
$477MX$8,189
37.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,403SEK 13.2K
$1,646MX$28.3K
-14.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,063SEK 9,969
$1,225MX$21.0K
-13.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,023SEK 37.7K
$3,918MX$67.2K
2.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,349SEK 31.4K
$6,459MX$110.9K
-48.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fagersta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$667MX$11.4K
-
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $837 in Fagersta and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Fagersta vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $374 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
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 42% 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 $2,706 in Fagersta and $1,906 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: $837 in Fagersta versus $956 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 50% 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 $69.0 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 $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,804 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 $1,271 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 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 42% less than in Fagersta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.