😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,750 in Linkoping versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,802 in Linkoping versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,853 in Linkoping versus $3,374 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Linkoping is roughly 35% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Linkoping is 27% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Linkoping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.65SEK 131
$11.71MX$198
16.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.6SEK 637
$46.59MX$787
42.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.60SEK 101
$11.65MX$197
-9.01%
Cappuccino
$4.55SEK 43.48
$4.09MX$69.2
11.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77SEK 26.51
$1.37MX$23.23
102.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23SEK 21.33
$0.83MX$14.09
168.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.16SEK 68.5
$3.35MX$56.7
113.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.52SEK 71.9
$6.91MX$117
8.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Linkoping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80SEK 17.18
$1.73MX$29.19
4.05%
White Bread(500g)
$2.74SEK 26.22
$2.26MX$38.20
21.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.15SEK 30.11
$1.77MX$29.90
77.97%
Eggs
$3.97SEK 37.94
$2.73MX$46.18
45.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.24SEK 117
$9.18MX$155
33.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.99SEK 115
$8.92MX$151
34.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.78SEK 170
$12.60MX$213
41.11%
Apples(1kg)
$3.15SEK 30.14
$3.02MX$51.1
4.30%
Banana(1kg)
$2.63SEK 25.19
$1.57MX$26.54
67.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.03SEK 19.40
$2.13MX$35.92
-4.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.53SEK 43.37
$2.26MX$38.27
100.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53SEK 14.68
$2.00MX$33.87
-23.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.73SEK 16.59
$2.06MX$34.89
-16.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.09SEK 20.03
$1.18MX$19.94
77.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.72SEK 16.48
$1.20MX$20.35
43.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.33SEK 70.1
$4.63MX$78.3
58.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37SEK 99.2
$10.69MX$181
-2.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02SEK 19.30
$1.62MX$27.37
24.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36SEK 22.61
$2.88MX$48.69
-18.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Linkoping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.52SEK 33.67
$0.57MX$9.69
517.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.3SEK 768
$29.83MX$504
169.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.41SEK 61.3
$5.45MX$92.1
17.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.73SEK 16.56
$3.70MX$62.6
-53.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$60.9SEK 582
$5.98MX$101
918.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84SEK 17.63
$1.55MX$26.25
18.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0KSEK 334.3K
$22.3KMX$377.3K
56.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.2KSEK 327.2K
$25.9KMX$438.5K
31.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Linkoping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$109SEK 1,042
$89.1MX$1,506
22.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.78SEK 189
$25.04MX$423
-21.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.23SEK 347
$31.50MX$532
15.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Linkoping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.01SEK 383
$67.8MX$1,145
-40.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.08SEK 336
$28.92MX$489
21.30%
Cinema Ticket
$16.67SEK 159
$5.05MX$85.3
230.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Linkoping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$226SEK 2,165
$225MX$3,802
0.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,531SEK 43.3K
$4,222MX$71.4K
7.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Linkoping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.1SEK 871
$47.44MX$802
91.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.74SEK 332
$44.98MX$760
-22.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.1SEK 920
$82.0MX$1,386
17.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$137SEK 1,311
$92.1MX$1,556
48.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Linkoping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$842SEK 8,051
$1,069MX$18.1K
-21.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$601SEK 5,747
$405MX$6,850
48.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,299SEK 12.4K
$1,935MX$32.7K
-32.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,219SEK 11.7K
$1,301MX$22.0K
-6.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,563SEK 43.6K
$3,995MX$67.5K
14.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,836SEK 27.1K
$6,626MX$112.0K
-57.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Linkoping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,705SEK 25.9K
$749MX$12.7K
261.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.06
11.45
-73.28%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Linkoping: August 30, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $842 in Linkoping and $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Linkoping pays 261% 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: $67.0 in Linkoping vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $359 vs $277 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. The 35% 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 261% 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: $842 in Linkoping versus $1,069 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 169% 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 $226 in Linkoping versus $225 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 $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,750 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 35% less than in Linkoping. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.