😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,653 in Mölndal versus $1,261 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,581 in Mölndal versus $2,130 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,508 in Mölndal versus $2,999 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Mölndal is roughly 31% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mölndal is 23% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mölndal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.88SEK 118
$11.67MX$202
10.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.0SEK 681
$41.88MX$726
76.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.47SEK 96.3
$10.40MX$180
0.67%
Cappuccino
$4.78SEK 44.01
$3.61MX$62.6
32.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96SEK 27.24
$1.47MX$25.45
101.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07SEK 9.81
$0.91MX$15.80
17.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.17SEK 66.0
$3.03MX$52.6
136.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.43SEK 59.2
$4.47MX$77.4
43.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mölndal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23SEK 11.33
$1.38MX$23.83
-10.87%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62SEK 14.93
$1.84MX$31.93
-11.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.33SEK 30.60
$1.61MX$27.82
106.83%
Eggs
$3.69SEK 33.98
$2.57MX$44.52
43.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.33SEK 67.5
$8.49MX$147
-13.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.66SEK 88.9
$8.49MX$147
13.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.01SEK 147
$10.99MX$190
45.68%
Apples(1kg)
$3.10SEK 28.51
$2.73MX$47.25
13.55%
Banana(1kg)
$2.55SEK 23.47
$1.50MX$25.92
70.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.88SEK 26.51
$1.96MX$33.93
46.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.38SEK 40.27
$2.12MX$36.70
106.60%
Potato(1kg)
$1.73SEK 15.90
$1.86MX$32.30
-6.99%
Onion(1kg)
$1.88SEK 17.31
$2.17MX$37.67
-13.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93SEK 17.72
$1.07MX$18.59
80.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25SEK 11.50
$1.05MX$18.18
19.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.47SEK 68.8
$4.19MX$72.6
78.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.07SEK 102
$10.28MX$178
7.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13SEK 19.57
$1.67MX$28.87
27.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56SEK 23.59
$2.49MX$43.12
2.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Mölndal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.71SEK 34.14
$0.54MX$9.37
587.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$86.6SEK 797
$26.27MX$455
229.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.53SEK 60.0
$3.10MX$53.8
110.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59SEK 14.62
$2.46MX$42.66
-35.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$62.6SEK 576
$3.24MX$56.1
1830.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89SEK 17.43
$1.26MX$21.83
50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2KSEK 305.5K
$30.2KMX$522.8K
10.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5KSEK 317.1K
$23.4KMX$406.3K
47.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mölndal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$76.0SEK 699
$84.0MX$1,456
-9.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.58SEK 97.4
$22.21MX$385
-52.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.51SEK 198
$29.65MX$514
-27.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mölndal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.28SEK 334
$52.6MX$912
-31.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.58SEK 272
$18.34MX$318
61.29%
Cinema Ticket
$17.90SEK 165
$4.95MX$85.7
261.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mölndal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$178SEK 1,637
$198MX$3,438
-10.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,098SEK 37.7K
$5,322MX$92.2K
-22.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mölndal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.1SEK 829
$35.95MX$623
150.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.59SEK 364
$40.06MX$694
-1.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.9SEK 671
$78.8MX$1,365
-7.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152SEK 1,402
$86.5MX$1,499
76.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mölndal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$832SEK 7,657
$977MX$16.9K
-14.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$645SEK 5,933
$471MX$8,158
37.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,382SEK 12.7K
$1,595MX$27.6K
-13.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,064SEK 9,787
$1,215MX$21.1K
-12.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,377SEK 40.3K
$4,032MX$69.9K
8.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,080SEK 28.3K
$6,579MX$114.0K
-53.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mölndal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$714MX$12.4K
-
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: April 20, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $832 in Mölndal and $977 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $74 in Mölndal vs $42 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $309 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 31% 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $2,480 in Mölndal and $1,891 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $832 in Mölndal versus $977 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 $1,653 per month in Mölndal versus $1,261 in Playa del Carmen – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Mölndal vs Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 230% 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 Playa del Carmen?
At $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,653 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 $1,261 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 31% less than in Mölndal. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.