😐A single person spends $1,578 per month in Ludvika vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,652 per month in Ludvika vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,725 per month in Ludvika vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Ludvika costs about 23% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Ludvika sits 18% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ludvika
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.13SEK 122
$11.94MX$209
9.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.3SEK 626
$42.75MX$748
57.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.49SEK 97.5
$10.59MX$185
-0.94%
Cappuccino
$4.53SEK 42.11
$3.62MX$63.4
25.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73SEK 25.37
$1.47MX$25.69
85.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48SEK 23.07
$0.94MX$16.51
163.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.36SEK 68.4
$3.09MX$54.1
138.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.57SEK 70.4
$4.46MX$78.0
69.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ludvika
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.83SEK 17.04
$1.43MX$24.94
27.97%
White Bread(500g)
$2.69SEK 24.99
$1.88MX$32.97
43.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.08SEK 37.92
$1.63MX$28.50
150.31%
Eggs
$3.89SEK 36.17
$2.64MX$46.26
47.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.16SEK 132
$8.21MX$144
72.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.73SEK 137
$8.29MX$145
77.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.83SEK 147
$11.10MX$194
42.61%
Apples(1kg)
$3.48SEK 32.39
$2.65MX$46.40
31.32%
Banana(1kg)
$2.58SEK 23.98
$1.50MX$26.26
72.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.85SEK 35.79
$1.99MX$34.79
93.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.45SEK 41.37
$2.08MX$36.33
113.94%
Potato(1kg)
$1.51SEK 14.08
$1.79MX$31.29
-15.64%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10SEK 19.51
$2.18MX$38.09
-3.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.67SEK 24.82
$1.08MX$18.84
147.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.60SEK 14.91
$1.04MX$18.15
53.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.26SEK 67.5
$3.97MX$69.5
82.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.65SEK 99.0
$10.20MX$179
4.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71SEK 15.92
$1.73MX$30.22
-1.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95SEK 18.10
$2.50MX$43.71
-22.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Ludvika
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.10SEK 28.86
$0.52MX$9.07
496.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$54.3SEK 505
$26.97MX$472
101.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$14.39SEK 134
$3.14MX$55.0
358.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.65SEK 15.37
$2.40MX$42.04
-31.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.06SEK 196
$3.09MX$54.0
581.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90SEK 17.66
$1.27MX$22.28
49.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3KSEK 300.0K
$30.9KMX$540.4K
4.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KSEK 319.5K
$23.3KMX$408.0K
47.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ludvika
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.9SEK 826
$82.0MX$1,435
8.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.76SEK 193
$22.45MX$393
-7.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.42SEK 339
$29.66MX$519
22.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ludvika
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.76SEK 295
$51.9MX$908
-38.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$53.5SEK 497
$18.67MX$327
186.45%
Cinema Ticket
$15.81SEK 147
$4.97MX$87.0
218.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ludvika
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$146SEK 1,360
$198MX$3,462
-26.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$725SEK 6,744
$5,273MX$92.3K
-86.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ludvika
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105SEK 979
$36.34MX$636
189.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.89SEK 408
$40.05MX$701
9.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116SEK 1,079
$79.9MX$1,398
45.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156SEK 1,448
$88.9MX$1,555
75.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ludvika
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$472SEK 4,390
$963MX$16.9K
-51.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448SEK 4,164
$465MX$8,133
-3.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$987SEK 9,182
$1,596MX$27.9K
-38.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$990SEK 9,211
$1,209MX$21.2K
-18.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,942MX$69.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,448MX$112.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ludvika
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,113SEK 38.3K
$720MX$12.6K
470.98%
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $472 in Ludvika versus $963 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 471% 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 $67.0 in Ludvika versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $384 vs $251 – 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 23% 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 $2,367 per month in Ludvika and $1,930 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 $198 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 53% 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 $1,287, than in Ludvika at $1,578. 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 $1,287 versus $1,578 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.