😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,679 in Mölndal versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,593 in Mölndal versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,507 in Mölndal versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Mölndal is roughly 33% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mölndal is 26% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mölndal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.62SEK 122
$11.72MX$204
7.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.0SEK 703
$41.89MX$731
74.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.46SEK 101
$10.51MX$183
-0.48%
Cappuccino
$5.00SEK 48.25
$3.59MX$62.5
39.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05SEK 29.42
$1.51MX$26.31
101.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04SEK 9.98
$0.92MX$15.96
13.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.23SEK 69.7
$2.96MX$51.6
144.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.22SEK 60.0
$4.41MX$76.9
41.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mölndal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25SEK 12.01
$1.40MX$24.35
-10.71%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56SEK 15.08
$1.88MX$32.87
-17.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.19SEK 30.72
$1.56MX$27.19
104.49%
Eggs
$3.77SEK 36.35
$2.61MX$45.50
44.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.23SEK 69.7
$8.32MX$145
-13.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.62SEK 92.8
$8.35MX$146
15.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.98SEK 154
$10.86MX$189
47.15%
Apples(1kg)
$3.14SEK 30.24
$2.71MX$47.31
15.87%
Banana(1kg)
$2.60SEK 25.10
$1.51MX$26.25
72.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.88SEK 27.73
$1.87MX$32.67
54.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.24SEK 40.92
$2.19MX$38.19
93.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.64SEK 15.85
$1.86MX$32.40
-11.83%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89SEK 18.19
$2.23MX$38.90
-15.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97SEK 18.97
$1.07MX$18.63
84.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.23SEK 11.85
$1.09MX$18.94
12.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.54SEK 72.7
$4.19MX$73.0
79.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.19SEK 98.2
$10.43MX$182
-2.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.17SEK 20.94
$1.66MX$28.91
30.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57SEK 24.79
$2.61MX$45.56
-1.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Mölndal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.77SEK 36.32
$0.54MX$9.45
598.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$88.6SEK 854
$26.16MX$456
238.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.68SEK 64.4
$3.08MX$53.7
116.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.64SEK 15.85
$2.40MX$41.94
-31.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.2SEK 590
$3.13MX$54.5
1854.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.88SEK 18.17
$1.31MX$22.87
43.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.5KSEK 313.0K
$29.8KMX$519.9K
8.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0KSEK 337.9K
$23.3KMX$406.8K
50.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mölndal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$76.4SEK 737
$81.3MX$1,418
-5.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.67SEK 103
$22.56MX$393
-52.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.12SEK 204
$30.05MX$524
-29.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mölndal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.31SEK 350
$52.9MX$923
-31.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.45SEK 284
$18.39MX$321
60.14%
Cinema Ticket
$17.66SEK 170
$4.92MX$85.8
258.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mölndal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$179SEK 1,721
$201MX$3,502
-11.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,077SEK 39.3K
$5,175MX$90.2K
-21.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mölndal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.2SEK 860
$35.92MX$627
148.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.99SEK 386
$40.13MX$700
-0.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.0SEK 703
$79.7MX$1,390
-8.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156SEK 1,504
$86.5MX$1,508
80.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mölndal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$851SEK 8,201
$978MX$17.1K
-13.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$649SEK 6,256
$470MX$8,206
37.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,372SEK 13.2K
$1,651MX$28.8K
-16.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,090SEK 10.5K
$1,203MX$21.0K
-9.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,122SEK 39.7K
$3,953MX$69.0K
4.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,901SEK 28.0K
$6,607MX$115.2K
-56.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mölndal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$677MX$11.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.33
11.42
-62.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mölndal: July 27, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $851 in Mölndal and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $73.0 in Mölndal vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $252 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
Mölndal vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mölndal or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 33% lower than in Mölndal. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Mölndal and in Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $2,518 in Mölndal and $1,890 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mölndal compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $851 in Mölndal versus $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Mölndal compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,679 per month in Mölndal versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Mölndal compared to Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 239% less than in Mölndal. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Mölndal or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,679 in Mölndal, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Mölndal. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mölndal or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,260 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Mölndal compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Mölndal 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Mölndal. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.