😐A single person spends $1,618 per month in Ludvika vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,698 per month in Ludvika vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,778 per month in Ludvika vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Ludvika costs about 27% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Ludvika sits 20% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ludvika
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.41SEK 126
$11.87MX$204
12.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.1SEK 648
$42.90MX$736
61.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65SEK 99.9
$10.65MX$183
-
Cappuccino
$4.61SEK 43.29
$3.45MX$59.2
33.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83SEK 26.56
$1.50MX$25.81
88.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48SEK 23.25
$0.95MX$16.28
161.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.51SEK 70.5
$3.03MX$51.9
147.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.36SEK 69.0
$4.61MX$79.1
59.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ludvika
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.86SEK 17.42
$1.38MX$23.61
34.78%
White Bread(500g)
$2.80SEK 26.27
$1.85MX$31.70
51.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.08SEK 38.31
$1.61MX$27.65
153.42%
Eggs
$4.07SEK 38.13
$2.59MX$44.51
57.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.15SEK 133
$8.26MX$142
71.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.81SEK 139
$8.37MX$144
76.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.67SEK 147
$10.66MX$183
47.00%
Apples(1kg)
$3.54SEK 33.24
$2.63MX$45.12
34.60%
Banana(1kg)
$2.71SEK 25.43
$1.49MX$25.53
81.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.89SEK 36.53
$1.92MX$32.94
102.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.34SEK 40.71
$2.09MX$35.81
107.66%
Potato(1kg)
$1.57SEK 14.71
$1.86MX$31.88
-15.59%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09SEK 19.65
$2.26MX$38.81
-7.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.57SEK 24.10
$1.06MX$18.23
142.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.60SEK 15.03
$1.09MX$18.67
46.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.45SEK 69.9
$4.15MX$71.2
79.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64SEK 99.8
$10.39MX$178
2.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70SEK 15.99
$1.72MX$29.59
-1.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94SEK 18.23
$2.61MX$44.85
-25.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Ludvika
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.24SEK 30.38
$0.54MX$9.30
500.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$54.3SEK 509
$26.94MX$462
101.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$14.58SEK 137
$3.13MX$53.7
365.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.66SEK 15.58
$2.51MX$43.09
-33.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.27SEK 200
$3.15MX$54.1
575.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.88SEK 17.60
$1.27MX$21.88
48.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.5KSEK 305.1K
$30.4KMX$521.3K
7.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1KSEK 319.8K
$23.6KMX$404.5K
44.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ludvika
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.2SEK 827
$83.0MX$1,425
6.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.75SEK 195
$22.71MX$390
-8.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.44SEK 342
$29.46MX$506
23.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ludvika
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.02SEK 291
$51.0MX$875
-39.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$52.9SEK 496
$18.33MX$315
188.60%
Cinema Ticket
$15.73SEK 148
$4.93MX$84.5
219.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ludvika
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$146SEK 1,366
$197MX$3,386
-26.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$748SEK 7,020
$5,280MX$90.6K
-85.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ludvika
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104SEK 971
$36.90MX$633
180.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.81SEK 411
$39.89MX$685
9.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114SEK 1,067
$80.0MX$1,373
42.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$157SEK 1,471
$89.5MX$1,536
75.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ludvika
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$473SEK 4,434
$956MX$16.4K
-50.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$459SEK 4,303
$477MX$8,189
-3.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,010SEK 9,472
$1,646MX$28.3K
-38.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,003SEK 9,408
$1,225MX$21.0K
-18.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,918MX$67.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,459MX$110.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ludvika
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,969SEK 37.2K
$667MX$11.4K
495.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
11.42
-64.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ludvika: June 9, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $473 in Ludvika versus $956 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.
💰Salaries run about 495% higher in Ludvika, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Ludvika versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $386 vs $250 – 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
Ludvika vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ludvika or Playa del Carmen?
Ludvika costs about 27% 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 Ludvika vs Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,428 per month in Ludvika and $1,906 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ludvika 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 do childcare costs compare in Ludvika and Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $146 per month in Ludvika and $197 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Ludvika or Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 54% more in Ludvika, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Ludvika or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,271, than in Ludvika at $1,618. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ludvika it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ludvika or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,271 versus $1,618 in Ludvika. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Ludvika or Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ludvika makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.