😐A single person spends $1,746 per month in Mariehamn vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,644 per month in Mariehamn vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,543 per month in Mariehamn vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Mariehamn costs about 39% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Mariehamn sits 31% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mariehamn
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.99€13.12
$11.99MX$210
25.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.3€59.8
$41.78MX$733
63.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.78€10.31
$10.75MX$189
9.58%
Cappuccino
$3.92€3.43
$3.50MX$61.3
12.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.44
$1.45MX$25.41
92.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97€1.72
$0.88MX$15.52
123.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.91€6.92
$2.95MX$51.7
168.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.41€5.61
$4.51MX$79.1
42.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mariehamn
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.13
$1.43MX$25.12
-9.79%
White Bread(500g)
$3.06€2.68
$1.84MX$32.23
66.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.39€2.97
$1.57MX$27.51
115.92%
Eggs
$2.99€2.62
$2.51MX$44.06
19.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.62€11.04
$8.28MX$145
52.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.31€9.02
$8.43MX$148
22.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.58€17.13
$10.68MX$187
83.33%
Apples(1kg)
$2.82€2.47
$2.61MX$45.76
8.05%
Banana(1kg)
$2.57€2.25
$1.44MX$25.22
78.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.49€2.17
$1.96MX$34.41
27.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.68€4.10
$2.09MX$36.74
123.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.60€1.40
$1.85MX$32.47
-13.51%
Onion(1kg)
$1.43€1.25
$2.17MX$38.02
-34.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.82€2.47
$1.03MX$18.09
173.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.80
$1.07MX$18.84
92.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.11€8.85
$4.10MX$72.0
146.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.88€12.15
$10.17MX$178
36.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.73€3.26
$1.68MX$29.38
122.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€3.01
$2.53MX$44.31
35.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Mariehamn
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.83€2.48
$0.51MX$8.93
454.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$58.4€51.1
$26.04MX$457
124.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.21€7.18
$3.23MX$56.7
154.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.06€0.93
$2.41MX$42.19
-56.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.89€20.02
$3.23MX$56.6
608.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.29€2.00
$1.32MX$23.17
73.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K€23.8K
$29.7KMX$520.9K
-8.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K€22.4K
$23.7KMX$415.0K
8.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mariehamn
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$209€183
$82.0MX$1,439
154.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.73€28.63
$22.95MX$403
42.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.33€37.04
$30.11MX$528
40.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mariehamn
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.79€38.31
$52.0MX$912
-15.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.91€20.04
$18.53MX$325
23.64%
Cinema Ticket
$16.33€14.28
$4.98MX$87.3
227.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mariehamn
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$164€143
$197MX$3,463
-17.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,336MX$93.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mariehamn
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.2€71.9
$35.60MX$624
130.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.75€28.65
$40.33MX$707
-18.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.6€82.8
$78.8MX$1,381
20.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.2€82.4
$88.9MX$1,560
5.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mariehamn
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$658€576
$947MX$16.6K
-30.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$526€460
$474MX$8,314
10.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,146€1,003
$1,644MX$28.8K
-30.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$846€741
$1,211MX$21.2K
-30.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,661€2,328
$4,056MX$71.1K
-34.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,486€1,300
$6,470MX$113.5K
-77.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mariehamn
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,761€2,416
$654MX$11.5K
322.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.9
11.42
-65.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mariehamn: July 14, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $658 in Mariehamn versus $947 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 322% higher in Mariehamn, 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 $68.0 in Mariehamn versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $377 vs $249 – 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
Mariehamn vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mariehamn or Playa del Carmen?
Mariehamn costs about 39% 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 Mariehamn and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,618 per month in Mariehamn and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Mariehamn 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 much does it cost to live in Mariehamn compared to Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,746 in Mariehamn and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Mariehamn compared to Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 124% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Mariehamn or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Mariehamn at $1,746. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mariehamn it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mariehamn or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,256 versus $1,746 in Mariehamn. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Mariehamn or to Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mariehamn makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.