😐A single person spends $2,142 per month in Falun vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,235 per month in Falun vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,328 per month in Falun vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Falun costs about 65% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Falun sits 60% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Falun
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98SEK 122
$11.73MX$203
10.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.4SEK 651
$41.62MX$719
66.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.32SEK 87.4
$10.64MX$184
-12.41%
Cappuccino
$4.57SEK 42.84
$3.52MX$60.8
29.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87SEK 17.58
$1.51MX$26.09
23.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04SEK 19.16
$0.97MX$16.82
110.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.25SEK 68.0
$2.95MX$51.0
145.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.47SEK 70.1
$4.45MX$77.0
67.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Falun
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38SEK 12.93
$1.38MX$23.90
-
White Bread(500g)
$2.86SEK 26.80
$1.89MX$32.69
51.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.94SEK 36.99
$1.64MX$28.29
140.24%
Eggs
$3.94SEK 36.94
$2.51MX$43.30
56.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.14SEK 123
$8.34MX$144
57.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.37SEK 97.3
$8.34MX$144
24.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.76SEK 148
$10.73MX$185
46.88%
Apples(1kg)
$3.64SEK 34.14
$2.60MX$45.00
40.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.56SEK 24.03
$1.46MX$25.18
75.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.54SEK 14.48
$1.90MX$32.84
-18.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.63SEK 52.8
$2.08MX$35.88
170.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.50SEK 14.02
$1.78MX$30.68
-15.73%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09SEK 19.64
$2.19MX$37.76
-4.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.73SEK 25.62
$1.04MX$17.97
162.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66SEK 15.60
$1.08MX$18.60
53.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.42SEK 69.5
$4.08MX$70.5
81.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.71SEK 100
$10.32MX$178
3.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70SEK 15.99
$1.71MX$29.59
-0.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99SEK 18.62
$2.58MX$44.50
-22.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Falun
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.73SEK 44.40
$0.51MX$8.81
827.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$97.2SEK 911
$26.46MX$457
267.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.25SEK 77.4
$3.26MX$56.4
153.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.63SEK 15.33
$2.49MX$43.05
-34.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$76.8SEK 721
$3.25MX$56.1
2264.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.86SEK 17.45
$1.31MX$22.59
41.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2KSEK 357.9K
$30.3KMX$523.2K
26.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KSEK 322.7K
$23.4KMX$404.9K
46.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Falun
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4SEK 857
$82.9MX$1,432
10.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.64SEK 269
$22.22MX$384
28.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.62SEK 343
$29.34MX$507
24.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Falun
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$71.8SEK 673
$51.6MX$892
39.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.84SEK 233
$18.32MX$317
35.59%
Cinema Ticket
$15.55SEK 146
$5.07MX$87.5
206.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Falun
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$146SEK 1,372
$201MX$3,470
-27.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$736SEK 6,903
$5,212MX$90.1K
-85.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Falun
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106SEK 995
$36.92MX$638
187.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.09SEK 404
$39.79MX$688
8.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117SEK 1,101
$78.5MX$1,356
49.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158SEK 1,483
$87.1MX$1,505
81.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Falun
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,286SEK 12.1K
$973MX$16.8K
32.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$957SEK 8,974
$468MX$8,082
104.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,963SEK 18.4K
$1,641MX$28.4K
19.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,602SEK 15.0K
$1,221MX$21.1K
31.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,404SEK 41.3K
$3,946MX$68.2K
11.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,027SEK 28.4K
$6,498MX$112.3K
-53.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Falun
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,772SEK 26.0K
$664MX$11.5K
317.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
11.42
-64.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Falun: May 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,286 in Falun versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 318% higher in Falun, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Falun versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $354 vs $249 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Falun vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Falun or Playa del Carmen?
Falun costs about 65% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Falun vs Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,213 per month in Falun and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Falun or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Falun and Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $146 per month in Falun and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Falun or Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 42% more in Falun, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Falun or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Falun at $2,142. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Falun it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Falun or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,297 versus $2,142 in Falun. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Falun compared to Playa del Carmen?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Falun or Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Falun makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.