😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,831 in Linkoping versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,843 in Linkoping versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,856 in Linkoping versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Linkoping is roughly 46% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Linkoping is 37% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Linkoping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.94SEK 125
$11.99MX$209
7.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.6SEK 655
$41.78MX$728
61.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.76SEK 104
$10.75MX$187
0.09%
Cappuccino
$4.67SEK 45.22
$3.50MX$60.9
33.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83SEK 27.38
$1.45MX$25.22
95.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39SEK 23.19
$0.88MX$15.41
171.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.25SEK 70.2
$2.95MX$51.3
145.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.30SEK 70.7
$4.51MX$78.6
61.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Linkoping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79SEK 17.36
$1.43MX$24.94
25.17%
White Bread(500g)
$3.08SEK 29.86
$1.84MX$31.99
67.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.96SEK 38.38
$1.57MX$27.31
152.23%
Eggs
$3.99SEK 38.65
$2.51MX$43.74
58.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.94SEK 135
$8.28MX$144
68.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.70SEK 113
$8.43MX$147
38.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86SEK 154
$10.68MX$186
48.50%
Apples(1kg)
$3.69SEK 35.71
$2.61MX$45.43
41.38%
Banana(1kg)
$2.61SEK 25.26
$1.44MX$25.04
81.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.61SEK 15.62
$1.96MX$34.16
-17.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.61SEK 54.4
$2.09MX$36.47
168.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.49SEK 14.40
$1.85MX$32.24
-19.46%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09SEK 20.21
$2.17MX$37.74
-3.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.74SEK 26.48
$1.03MX$17.96
166.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.67SEK 16.18
$1.07MX$18.70
56.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.46SEK 72.2
$4.10MX$71.4
81.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.38SEK 101
$10.17MX$177
2.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78SEK 17.19
$1.68MX$29.17
5.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97SEK 19.04
$2.53MX$43.98
-22.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Linkoping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.39SEK 32.84
$0.51MX$8.87
564.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.6SEK 771
$26.04MX$453
205.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$14.54SEK 141
$3.23MX$56.3
350.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60SEK 15.50
$2.41MX$41.88
-33.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.25SEK 206
$3.23MX$56.2
557.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.00SEK 19.34
$1.32MX$23.00
51.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8KSEK 317.6K
$29.7KMX$517.1K
10.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.0KSEK 329.1K
$23.7KMX$412.0K
43.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Linkoping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.4SEK 856
$82.0MX$1,428
7.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.60SEK 277
$22.95MX$400
24.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82SEK 357
$30.11MX$524
22.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Linkoping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.81SEK 415
$52.0MX$905
-17.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$54.4SEK 526
$18.53MX$323
193.36%
Cinema Ticket
$16.06SEK 156
$4.98MX$86.6
222.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Linkoping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$142SEK 1,371
$197MX$3,438
-28.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$734SEK 7,105
$5,336MX$92.9K
-86.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Linkoping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103SEK 996
$35.60MX$620
188.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.54SEK 431
$40.33MX$702
10.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116SEK 1,125
$78.8MX$1,371
47.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$157SEK 1,519
$88.9MX$1,549
76.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Linkoping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$828SEK 8,019
$947MX$16.5K
-12.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$646SEK 6,254
$474MX$8,254
36.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,272SEK 12.3K
$1,644MX$28.6K
-22.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,090SEK 10.6K
$1,211MX$21.1K
-9.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,608SEK 44.6K
$4,056MX$70.6K
13.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,826SEK 27.4K
$6,470MX$112.7K
-56.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Linkoping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,753SEK 26.7K
$654MX$11.4K
321.00%
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 Linkoping: July 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $828 in Linkoping and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Linkoping pays 321% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Linkoping vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $370 vs $249 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
Linkoping vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Linkoping?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 46% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Linkoping or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 321% higher in Linkoping, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Linkoping and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $828 in Linkoping versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 206% less than in Linkoping. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $142 in Linkoping versus $197 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Linkoping or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,831 in Linkoping, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Linkoping. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Linkoping or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Linkoping, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Linkoping or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Linkoping 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Linkoping. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.