😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,782 in Mora versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,874 in Mora versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,965 in Mora versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Mora is roughly 41% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mora is 34% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.89SEK 94.0
$11.72MX$203
-15.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$109SEK 1,036
$41.89MX$725
160.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41SEK 108
$10.51MX$182
8.56%
Cappuccino
$5.09SEK 48.37
$3.59MX$62.0
41.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14SEK 10.79
$1.51MX$26.10
-24.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48SEK 23.55
$0.92MX$15.83
169.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.20SEK 77.9
$2.96MX$51.2
177.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.35SEK 79.3
$4.41MX$76.3
89.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.78SEK 16.89
$1.40MX$24.16
27.14%
White Bread(500g)
$3.35SEK 31.86
$1.88MX$32.60
78.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.88SEK 27.41
$1.56MX$26.97
84.62%
Eggs
$4.58SEK 43.55
$2.61MX$45.14
75.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.91SEK 123
$8.32MX$144
55.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.49SEK 109
$8.35MX$145
37.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.12SEK 182
$10.86MX$188
76.06%
Apples(1kg)
$3.51SEK 33.30
$2.71MX$46.93
29.52%
Banana(1kg)
$2.56SEK 24.30
$1.51MX$26.04
69.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.46SEK 32.87
$1.87MX$32.41
85.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.62SEK 43.93
$2.19MX$37.89
110.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.49SEK 14.14
$1.86MX$32.14
-19.89%
Onion(1kg)
$1.59SEK 15.08
$2.23MX$38.59
-28.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.44SEK 23.14
$1.07MX$18.48
128.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76SEK 7.20
$1.09MX$18.79
-30.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.30SEK 59.8
$4.19MX$72.4
50.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.47SEK 118
$10.43MX$180
19.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.16SEK 20.48
$1.66MX$28.68
30.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37SEK 22.47
$2.61MX$45.19
-9.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Mora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.32SEK 31.55
$0.54MX$9.37
514.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.2SEK 695
$26.16MX$453
179.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.19SEK 58.8
$3.08MX$53.3
100.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.65SEK 15.68
$2.40MX$41.61
-31.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.8SEK 587
$3.13MX$54.1
1874.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.88SEK 17.85
$1.31MX$22.69
43.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4KSEK 307.9K
$29.8KMX$515.7K
8.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9KSEK 331.2K
$23.3KMX$403.5K
49.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$114SEK 1,080
$81.3MX$1,406
39.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.30SEK 278
$22.56MX$390
29.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.49SEK 394
$30.05MX$520
38.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.62SEK 386
$52.9MX$915
-23.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.93SEK 237
$18.39MX$318
35.56%
Cinema Ticket
$15.73SEK 149
$4.92MX$85.1
219.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$160SEK 1,516
$201MX$3,474
-20.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,180SEK 39.7K
$5,175MX$89.5K
-19.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.2SEK 894
$35.92MX$622
162.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.11SEK 467
$40.13MX$694
22.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$57.5SEK 546
$79.7MX$1,379
-27.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$204SEK 1,940
$86.5MX$1,496
136.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$831SEK 7,894
$978MX$16.9K
-15.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653SEK 6,201
$470MX$8,140
38.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,406SEK 13.4K
$1,651MX$28.6K
-14.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,069SEK 10.2K
$1,203MX$20.8K
-11.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,688SEK 35.0K
$3,953MX$68.4K
-6.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,194SEK 30.3K
$6,607MX$114.3K
-51.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,499SEK 23.7K
$677MX$11.7K
269.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.16
11.42
-63.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mora: July 27, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $831 in Mora and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mora pays 269% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $109 in Mora vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $372 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
Mora vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mora and in Playa del Carmen?
Mora and Playa del Carmen differ by about 41% in total monthly costs ($1,782 vs $1,260 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mora or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 269% higher in Mora, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Mora and in Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $831 in Mora versus $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 48% higher in Mora. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $109 in Mora. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,782 in Mora, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Mora. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mora and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Mora or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mora 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.
Where should expats move: Mora or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Mora. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.