😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,959 in Fagersta versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,970 in Fagersta versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,981 in Fagersta versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Fagersta is roughly 55% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Fagersta is 43% above, Playa del Carmen is 7% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fagersta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.46SEK 143
$11.60MX$200
24.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.5SEK 665
$47.11MX$812
43.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59SEK 104
$11.88MX$205
-10.86%
Cappuccino
$4.63SEK 45.67
$3.98MX$68.6
16.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75SEK 27.14
$1.43MX$24.60
92.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30SEK 22.62
$0.82MX$14.22
180.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.39SEK 72.8
$3.19MX$55.0
131.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.39SEK 72.8
$6.79MX$117
8.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fagersta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.78SEK 17.55
$1.68MX$28.89
5.95%
White Bread(500g)
$3.28SEK 32.33
$2.20MX$37.88
49.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.49SEK 54.1
$1.71MX$29.45
221.05%
Eggs
$5.04SEK 49.65
$2.74MX$47.26
83.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.95SEK 137
$9.58MX$165
45.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.43SEK 132
$9.01MX$155
49.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.79SEK 175
$12.81MX$221
38.88%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24SEK 31.90
$2.89MX$49.81
12.11%
Banana(1kg)
$2.67SEK 26.30
$1.50MX$25.81
78.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.11SEK 20.83
$2.15MX$37.03
-1.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.94SEK 48.72
$2.26MX$38.96
118.58%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47SEK 14.51
$1.98MX$34.15
-25.76%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87SEK 18.42
$1.99MX$34.30
-6.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.38SEK 23.47
$1.23MX$21.28
93.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.98SEK 19.54
$1.20MX$20.63
65.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.49SEK 73.8
$4.55MX$78.5
64.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.60SEK 104
$10.37MX$179
2.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04SEK 20.11
$1.62MX$27.91
25.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39SEK 23.54
$2.88MX$49.67
-17.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Fagersta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.38SEK 33.32
$0.60MX$10.35
463.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.6SEK 794
$28.80MX$497
179.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$13.45SEK 133
$5.39MX$92.9
149.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13SEK 20.95
$3.73MX$64.3
-42.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$82.6SEK 814
$5.77MX$99.5
1332.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75SEK 17.21
$1.54MX$26.48
13.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3KSEK 337.8K
$22.5KMX$388.8K
52.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.7KSEK 332.3K
$26.1KMX$449.3K
29.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fagersta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$185SEK 1,827
$91.4MX$1,576
102.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.34SEK 269
$25.20MX$435
8.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.34SEK 486
$31.24MX$539
57.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fagersta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.95SEK 384
$67.2MX$1,159
-42.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.12SEK 257
$29.11MX$502
-10.27%
Cinema Ticket
$16.96SEK 167
$4.86MX$83.8
248.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fagersta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$228SEK 2,251
$224MX$3,856
2.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,225SEK 51.5K
$4,229MX$72.9K
23.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fagersta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103SEK 1,012
$47.10MX$812
117.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.1SEK 553
$44.29MX$764
26.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.3SEK 969
$80.1MX$1,381
22.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$224SEK 2,210
$92.7MX$1,598
141.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fagersta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$839SEK 8,268
$1,063MX$18.3K
-21.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$610SEK 6,011
$390MX$6,728
56.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,378SEK 13.6K
$2,149MX$37.1K
-35.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,042SEK 10.3K
$1,272MX$21.9K
-18.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,257SEK 42.0K
$4,001MX$69.0K
6.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,881SEK 28.4K
$6,502MX$112.1K
-55.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fagersta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$758MX$13.1K
-
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 Fagersta: September 15, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $839 in Fagersta and $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $67.0 in Fagersta vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $398 vs $276 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 55% 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 and in Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $2,938 in Fagersta and $1,899 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 compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $839 in Fagersta versus $1,063 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 44% higher in Fagersta. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Fagersta and in Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $47.00 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 in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,959 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 $1,266 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 55% less than in Fagersta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.