😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,617 in Ljungby versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,595 in Ljungby versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,573 in Ljungby versus $3,374 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Ljungby is roughly 25% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ljungby is 18% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ljungby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.89SEK 124
$11.71MX$199
10.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.0SEK 876
$46.59MX$791
95.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.76SEK 123
$11.65MX$198
9.53%
Cappuccino
$4.06SEK 39.07
$4.09MX$69.5
-0.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00SEK 28.93
$1.37MX$23.34
118.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17SEK 20.87
$0.83MX$14.16
161.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.41SEK 61.7
$3.35MX$56.9
91.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.97SEK 76.8
$6.91MX$117
15.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ljungby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.72SEK 16.60
$1.73MX$29.33
-0.58%
White Bread(500g)
$2.83SEK 27.24
$2.26MX$38.39
25.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.26SEK 31.42
$1.77MX$30.05
84.18%
Eggs
$4.10SEK 39.49
$2.73MX$46.41
50.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.31SEK 89.7
$9.18MX$156
1.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.95SEK 95.8
$8.92MX$151
11.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.15SEK 136
$12.60MX$214
12.30%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89SEK 27.86
$3.02MX$51.3
-4.30%
Banana(1kg)
$2.63SEK 25.34
$1.57MX$26.68
67.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.20SEK 30.81
$2.13MX$36.10
50.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.34SEK 41.84
$2.26MX$38.46
92.04%
Potato(1kg)
$1.81SEK 17.42
$2.00MX$34.04
-9.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.59SEK 15.32
$2.06MX$35.06
-22.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.04SEK 19.64
$1.18MX$20.04
72.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26SEK 12.16
$1.20MX$20.45
5.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.21SEK 79.1
$4.63MX$78.7
77.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.17SEK 59.4
$10.69MX$182
-42.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.21SEK 21.29
$1.62MX$27.50
36.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90SEK 18.28
$2.88MX$48.93
-34.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Ljungby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.96SEK 28.49
$0.57MX$9.74
419.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.4SEK 765
$29.83MX$507
166.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.23SEK 60.0
$5.45MX$92.5
14.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.80SEK 17.33
$3.70MX$62.9
-51.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.3SEK 590
$5.98MX$102
924.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.74SEK 16.78
$1.55MX$26.38
12.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1KSEK 337.7K
$22.3KMX$379.2K
57.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7KSEK 334.6K
$25.9KMX$440.7K
33.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ljungby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$51.2SEK 493
$89.1MX$1,514
-42.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.30SEK 186
$25.04MX$425
-22.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.84SEK 297
$31.50MX$535
-2.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ljungby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.98SEK 385
$67.8MX$1,151
-41.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.82SEK 239
$28.92MX$491
-14.18%
Cinema Ticket
$19.64SEK 189
$5.05MX$85.8
288.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ljungby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$225SEK 2,169
$225MX$3,820
0.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,541SEK 43.7K
$4,222MX$71.7K
7.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ljungby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.2SEK 801
$47.44MX$806
75.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.05SEK 328
$44.98MX$764
-24.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.4SEK 928
$82.0MX$1,392
17.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103SEK 988
$92.1MX$1,564
11.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ljungby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$841SEK 8,101
$1,069MX$18.2K
-21.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$617SEK 5,944
$405MX$6,884
52.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,407SEK 13.6K
$1,935MX$32.9K
-27.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,052SEK 10.1K
$1,301MX$22.1K
-19.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,139SEK 39.9K
$3,995MX$67.9K
3.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,053SEK 29.4K
$6,626MX$112.5K
-53.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ljungby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,409SEK 23.2K
$749MX$12.7K
221.77%
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 Ljungby: August 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $841 in Ljungby and $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ljungby pays 222% 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: $91.0 in Ljungby vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 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
Ljungby vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ljungby and in Playa del Carmen?
Ljungby and Playa del Carmen differ by about 25% in total monthly costs ($1,617 vs $1,293 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Ljungby or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 222% higher in Ljungby, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Ljungby and in Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $841 in Ljungby versus $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ljungby or Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,617 per month in Ljungby versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Ljungby and in Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 166% less than in Ljungby. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,617 in Ljungby, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Ljungby. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ljungby and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ljungby or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ljungby 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.
Where should expats move: Ljungby or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Ljungby. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.