😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,830 in Fagersta versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,826 in Fagersta versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,822 in Fagersta versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Fagersta is roughly 45% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Fagersta is 37% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fagersta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.43SEK 128
$11.72MX$203
14.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4SEK 650
$41.89MX$725
63.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.41SEK 98.9
$10.51MX$182
-0.95%
Cappuccino
$4.47SEK 42.46
$3.59MX$62.0
24.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70SEK 25.68
$1.51MX$26.10
78.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40SEK 22.84
$0.92MX$15.83
160.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.55SEK 71.7
$2.96MX$51.2
155.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.55SEK 71.7
$4.41MX$76.3
71.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fagersta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.86SEK 17.70
$1.40MX$24.16
32.86%
White Bread(500g)
$3.13SEK 29.71
$1.88MX$32.60
66.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.09SEK 38.87
$1.56MX$26.97
162.18%
Eggs
$3.88SEK 36.88
$2.61MX$45.14
48.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.31SEK 136
$8.32MX$144
72.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.59SEK 110
$8.35MX$145
38.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.77SEK 150
$10.86MX$188
45.21%
Apples(1kg)
$3.50SEK 33.23
$2.71MX$46.93
29.15%
Banana(1kg)
$2.57SEK 24.37
$1.51MX$26.04
70.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.54SEK 14.66
$1.87MX$32.41
-17.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.69SEK 54.0
$2.19MX$37.89
159.82%
Potato(1kg)
$1.51SEK 14.34
$1.86MX$32.14
-18.82%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17SEK 20.59
$2.23MX$38.59
-2.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.68SEK 25.45
$1.07MX$18.48
150.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.74SEK 16.55
$1.09MX$18.79
59.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.52SEK 71.4
$4.19MX$72.4
79.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.36SEK 98.4
$10.43MX$180
-0.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72SEK 16.31
$1.66MX$28.68
3.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96SEK 18.60
$2.61MX$45.19
-24.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Fagersta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.46SEK 32.84
$0.54MX$9.37
540.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$72.6SEK 689
$26.16MX$453
177.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.77SEK 54.8
$3.08MX$53.3
87.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60SEK 15.18
$2.40MX$41.61
-33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.76SEK 197
$3.13MX$54.1
563.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.00SEK 19.04
$1.31MX$22.69
52.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3KSEK 306.4K
$29.8KMX$515.7K
8.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KSEK 327.2K
$23.3KMX$403.5K
47.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fagersta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.6SEK 851
$81.3MX$1,406
10.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.47SEK 270
$22.56MX$390
26.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.78SEK 349
$30.05MX$520
22.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fagersta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.48SEK 385
$52.9MX$915
-23.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.23SEK 240
$18.39MX$318
37.19%
Cinema Ticket
$15.57SEK 148
$4.92MX$85.1
216.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fagersta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$142SEK 1,348
$201MX$3,474
-29.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$740SEK 7,030
$5,175MX$89.5K
-85.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fagersta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105SEK 993
$35.92MX$622
190.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.66SEK 415
$40.13MX$694
8.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117SEK 1,107
$79.7MX$1,379
46.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$154SEK 1,461
$86.5MX$1,496
77.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fagersta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$828SEK 7,870
$978MX$16.9K
-15.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$661SEK 6,277
$470MX$8,140
40.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,382SEK 13.1K
$1,651MX$28.6K
-16.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,087SEK 10.3K
$1,203MX$20.8K
-9.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,067SEK 38.6K
$3,953MX$68.4K
2.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,900SEK 27.6K
$6,607MX$114.3K
-56.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fagersta
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$677MX$11.7K
-
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: July 28, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $828 in Fagersta and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Fagersta vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $371 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
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 45% 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 $2,745 in Fagersta and $1,890 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: $828 in Fagersta versus $978 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 48% 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 $42.00 versus $68.0 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 $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,830 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 $1,260 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 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 45% less than in Fagersta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.