😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,637 in Mölndal versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,572 in Mölndal versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,507 in Mölndal versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Mölndal is roughly 29% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mölndal is 20% above, Playa del Carmen is 7% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mölndal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.60SEK 134
$11.60MX$200
17.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.5SEK 705
$47.11MX$812
51.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.38SEK 112
$11.88MX$205
-4.21%
Cappuccino
$5.08SEK 50.1
$3.98MX$68.6
27.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96SEK 29.18
$1.43MX$24.60
106.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06SEK 10.47
$0.82MX$14.22
29.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.04SEK 69.4
$3.19MX$55.0
120.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.19SEK 61.0
$6.79MX$117
-8.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mölndal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21SEK 11.92
$1.68MX$28.89
-27.98%
White Bread(500g)
$1.58SEK 15.53
$2.20MX$37.88
-28.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.22SEK 31.76
$1.71MX$29.45
88.30%
Eggs
$3.78SEK 37.25
$2.74MX$47.26
37.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.11SEK 70.1
$9.58MX$165
-25.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.37SEK 92.3
$9.01MX$155
4.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.65SEK 174
$12.81MX$221
37.78%
Apples(1kg)
$3.19SEK 31.45
$2.89MX$49.81
10.38%
Banana(1kg)
$2.61SEK 25.74
$1.50MX$25.81
74.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.95SEK 29.08
$2.15MX$37.03
37.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.52SEK 44.53
$2.26MX$38.96
100.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.68SEK 16.60
$1.98MX$34.15
-15.15%
Onion(1kg)
$1.73SEK 17.00
$1.99MX$34.30
-13.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.94SEK 19.13
$1.23MX$21.28
57.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24SEK 12.20
$1.20MX$20.63
3.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.61SEK 75.0
$4.55MX$78.5
67.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.62SEK 105
$10.37MX$179
2.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13SEK 20.98
$1.62MX$27.91
31.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35SEK 23.17
$2.88MX$49.67
-18.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Mölndal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.76SEK 37.08
$0.60MX$10.35
526.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$86.9SEK 856
$28.80MX$497
201.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.28SEK 61.8
$5.39MX$92.9
16.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.79SEK 17.67
$3.73MX$64.3
-52.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.0SEK 601
$5.77MX$99.5
957.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.87SEK 18.42
$1.54MX$26.48
21.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2KSEK 337.0K
$22.5KMX$388.8K
51.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8KSEK 343.2K
$26.1KMX$449.3K
33.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mölndal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.46SEK 438
$91.4MX$1,576
-51.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.52SEK 104
$25.20MX$435
-58.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.48SEK 202
$31.24MX$539
-34.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mölndal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.31SEK 407
$67.2MX$1,159
-38.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.52SEK 291
$29.11MX$502
1.41%
Cinema Ticket
$18.86SEK 186
$4.86MX$83.8
288.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mölndal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$231SEK 2,273
$224MX$3,856
3.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,509SEK 44.4K
$4,229MX$72.9K
6.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mölndal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.0SEK 896
$47.10MX$812
93.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.20SEK 337
$44.29MX$764
-22.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.7SEK 707
$80.1MX$1,381
-10.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140SEK 1,380
$92.7MX$1,598
51.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mölndal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$842SEK 8,300
$1,063MX$18.3K
-20.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623SEK 6,138
$390MX$6,728
59.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,385SEK 13.6K
$2,149MX$37.1K
-35.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,053SEK 10.4K
$1,272MX$21.9K
-17.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,245SEK 41.8K
$4,001MX$69.0K
6.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,939SEK 29.0K
$6,502MX$112.1K
-54.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mölndal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$758MX$13.1K
-
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 Mölndal: September 14, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $842 in Mölndal and $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $72.0 in Mölndal vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $311 vs $276 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 29% 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 $2,456 in Mölndal and $1,899 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: $842 in Mölndal versus $1,063 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 $1,637 per month in Mölndal versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen – a 29% 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 202% 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 $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,637 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 $1,266 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 29% less than in Mölndal. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.