😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,792 in Linkoping versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,862 in Linkoping versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,932 in Linkoping versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Linkoping is roughly 38% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Linkoping is 34% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Linkoping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.92SEK 121
$11.73MX$203
10.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.6SEK 653
$41.62MX$719
67.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.63SEK 99.7
$10.64MX$184
-0.09%
Cappuccino
$4.46SEK 41.79
$3.52MX$60.8
26.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77SEK 25.99
$1.51MX$26.09
83.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42SEK 22.70
$0.97MX$16.82
149.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.30SEK 68.5
$2.95MX$51.0
147.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.30SEK 68.5
$4.45MX$77.0
64.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Linkoping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.76SEK 16.54
$1.38MX$23.90
27.54%
White Bread(500g)
$3.23SEK 30.30
$1.89MX$32.69
70.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.95SEK 37.04
$1.64MX$28.29
140.85%
Eggs
$4.07SEK 38.16
$2.51MX$43.30
62.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.86SEK 130
$8.34MX$144
66.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.68SEK 110
$8.34MX$144
40.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.83SEK 149
$10.73MX$185
47.53%
Apples(1kg)
$3.53SEK 33.15
$2.60MX$45.00
35.77%
Banana(1kg)
$2.65SEK 24.89
$1.46MX$25.18
81.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.56SEK 14.59
$1.90MX$32.84
-17.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.74SEK 53.9
$2.08MX$35.88
175.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.54SEK 14.44
$1.78MX$30.68
-13.48%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07SEK 19.37
$2.19MX$37.76
-5.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.79SEK 26.13
$1.04MX$17.97
168.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.72SEK 16.14
$1.08MX$18.60
59.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.48SEK 70.1
$4.08MX$70.5
83.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.70SEK 100
$10.32MX$178
3.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70SEK 15.92
$1.71MX$29.59
-0.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90SEK 17.86
$2.58MX$44.50
-26.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Linkoping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.43SEK 32.17
$0.51MX$8.81
572.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$78.9SEK 740
$26.46MX$457
198.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$14.63SEK 137
$3.26MX$56.4
348.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.65SEK 15.44
$2.49MX$43.05
-33.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.41SEK 201
$3.25MX$56.1
558.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.91SEK 17.91
$1.31MX$22.59
45.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3KSEK 302.7K
$30.3KMX$523.2K
6.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9KSEK 318.2K
$23.4KMX$404.9K
44.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Linkoping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.9SEK 843
$82.9MX$1,432
8.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.23SEK 265
$22.22MX$384
27.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.26SEK 349
$29.34MX$507
26.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Linkoping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.79SEK 411
$51.6MX$892
-15.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$53.5SEK 502
$18.32MX$317
191.92%
Cinema Ticket
$16.01SEK 150
$5.07MX$87.5
215.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Linkoping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$144SEK 1,347
$201MX$3,470
-28.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$743SEK 6,966
$5,212MX$90.1K
-85.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Linkoping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106SEK 995
$36.92MX$638
187.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.78SEK 411
$39.79MX$688
10.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114SEK 1,072
$78.5MX$1,356
45.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$159SEK 1,488
$87.1MX$1,505
82.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Linkoping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$812SEK 7,618
$973MX$16.8K
-16.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$638SEK 5,979
$468MX$8,082
36.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,287SEK 12.1K
$1,641MX$28.4K
-21.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,079SEK 10.1K
$1,221MX$21.1K
-11.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,863SEK 45.6K
$3,946MX$68.2K
23.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,997SEK 28.1K
$6,498MX$112.3K
-53.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Linkoping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,849SEK 26.7K
$664MX$11.5K
329.17%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $812 in Linkoping and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Linkoping pays 329% 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: $70.0 in Linkoping vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $372 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 38% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Linkoping or Playa del Carmen?
Linkoping pays 329% more on average, 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: $812 in Linkoping versus $973 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 198% 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 $144 in Linkoping versus $201 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 Linkoping or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,792 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 38% less than in Linkoping. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.