😐A single person spends $1,777 per month in Härnösand vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,787 per month in Härnösand vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,796 per month in Härnösand vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Härnösand costs about 40% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Härnösand sits 30% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Härnösand
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.71SEK 135
$11.60MX$200
18.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.4SEK 763
$47.11MX$812
64.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.36SEK 102
$11.88MX$205
-12.79%
Cappuccino
$4.62SEK 45.54
$3.98MX$68.6
16.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75SEK 27.08
$1.43MX$24.60
92.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30SEK 22.68
$0.82MX$14.22
180.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.33SEK 72.2
$3.19MX$55.0
129.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.19SEK 70.9
$6.79MX$117
5.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Härnösand
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71SEK 16.82
$1.68MX$28.89
1.79%
White Bread(500g)
$2.84SEK 27.96
$2.20MX$37.88
29.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.87SEK 38.12
$1.71MX$29.45
126.32%
Eggs
$4.62SEK 45.48
$2.74MX$47.26
68.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.40SEK 122
$9.58MX$165
29.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.36SEK 122
$9.01MX$155
37.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.86SEK 176
$12.81MX$221
39.42%
Apples(1kg)
$3.08SEK 30.32
$2.89MX$49.81
6.57%
Banana(1kg)
$2.65SEK 26.10
$1.50MX$25.81
76.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.20SEK 31.54
$2.15MX$37.03
48.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.48SEK 44.17
$2.26MX$38.96
98.23%
Potato(1kg)
$1.60SEK 15.75
$1.98MX$34.15
-19.19%
Onion(1kg)
$1.62SEK 16.01
$1.99MX$34.30
-18.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.29SEK 22.54
$1.23MX$21.28
86.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.49SEK 14.67
$1.20MX$20.63
24.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.55SEK 74.4
$4.55MX$78.5
65.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.52SEK 104
$10.37MX$179
1.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06SEK 20.32
$1.62MX$27.91
27.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36SEK 23.26
$2.88MX$49.67
-18.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Härnösand
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.46SEK 34.14
$0.60MX$10.35
476.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.4SEK 783
$28.80MX$497
175.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.29SEK 62.0
$5.39MX$92.9
16.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.78SEK 17.49
$3.73MX$64.3
-52.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$62.7SEK 618
$5.77MX$99.5
986.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.87SEK 18.43
$1.54MX$26.48
21.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7KSEK 332.1K
$22.5KMX$388.8K
49.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9KSEK 333.7K
$26.1KMX$449.3K
29.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Härnösand
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$108SEK 1,066
$91.4MX$1,576
18.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.76SEK 264
$25.20MX$435
6.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.83SEK 383
$31.24MX$539
24.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Härnösand
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.92SEK 393
$67.2MX$1,159
-40.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.35SEK 260
$29.11MX$502
-9.48%
Cinema Ticket
$16.84SEK 166
$4.86MX$83.8
246.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Härnösand
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$165SEK 1,631
$224MX$3,856
-26.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,297SEK 52.2K
$4,229MX$72.9K
25.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Härnösand
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6SEK 912
$47.10MX$812
96.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.21SEK 426
$44.29MX$764
-2.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.1SEK 957
$80.1MX$1,381
21.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142SEK 1,403
$92.7MX$1,598
53.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Härnösand
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$824SEK 8,121
$1,063MX$18.3K
-22.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$625SEK 6,160
$390MX$6,728
60.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,392SEK 13.7K
$2,149MX$37.1K
-35.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,052SEK 10.4K
$1,272MX$21.9K
-17.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,131SEK 40.7K
$4,001MX$69.0K
3.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,926SEK 28.8K
$6,502MX$112.1K
-55.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Härnösand
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$758MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.42
11.45
-70.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Härnösand: September 14, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $824 in Härnösand versus $1,063 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Härnösand versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $370 vs $276 – 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
Härnösand vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Härnösand or Playa del Carmen?
Härnösand costs about 40% 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 Härnösand and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,666 per month in Härnösand and $1,899 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Härnösand 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 much does it cost to live in Härnösand compared to Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,777 in Härnösand and $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Härnösand compared to Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 176% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Härnösand or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,266, than in Härnösand at $1,777. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Härnösand it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Härnösand or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,266 versus $1,777 in Härnösand. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Härnösand 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 Härnösand or to Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Härnösand makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.