😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,933 in Mora versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,002 in Mora versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,072 in Mora versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Mora is roughly 50% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mora is 44% above, Playa del Carmen is 4% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.92SEK 92.3
$11.94MX$209
-16.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$110SEK 1,021
$42.75MX$748
156.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.57SEK 108
$10.59MX$185
9.25%
Cappuccino
$5.00SEK 46.53
$3.62MX$63.4
38.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19SEK 11.03
$1.47MX$25.69
-19.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55SEK 23.74
$0.94MX$16.51
171.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.55SEK 79.5
$3.09MX$54.1
176.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.41SEK 78.2
$4.46MX$78.0
88.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80SEK 16.70
$1.43MX$24.94
25.87%
White Bread(500g)
$3.44SEK 32.02
$1.88MX$32.97
82.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.91SEK 27.04
$1.63MX$28.50
78.53%
Eggs
$4.51SEK 41.95
$2.64MX$46.26
70.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.81SEK 119
$8.21MX$144
56.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.64SEK 108
$8.29MX$145
40.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16SEK 178
$11.10MX$194
72.61%
Apples(1kg)
$3.43SEK 31.86
$2.65MX$46.40
29.43%
Banana(1kg)
$2.51SEK 23.33
$1.50MX$26.26
67.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.35SEK 31.11
$1.99MX$34.79
68.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.65SEK 43.23
$2.08MX$36.33
123.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.44SEK 13.40
$1.79MX$31.29
-19.55%
Onion(1kg)
$1.55SEK 14.38
$2.18MX$38.09
-28.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.55SEK 23.72
$1.08MX$18.84
136.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74SEK 6.90
$1.04MX$18.15
-28.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.44SEK 59.9
$3.97MX$69.5
62.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.29SEK 133
$10.20MX$179
40.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15SEK 20.00
$1.73MX$30.22
24.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28SEK 21.16
$2.50MX$43.71
-8.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Mora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.40SEK 31.58
$0.52MX$9.07
553.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$74.6SEK 693
$26.97MX$472
176.46%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.14SEK 57.1
$3.14MX$55.0
95.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.64SEK 15.26
$2.40MX$42.04
-31.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$62.2SEK 579
$3.09MX$54.0
1913.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.88SEK 17.45
$1.27MX$22.28
48.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0KSEK 307.0K
$30.9KMX$540.4K
6.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KSEK 331.7K
$23.3KMX$408.0K
52.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$231SEK 2,148
$82.0MX$1,435
181.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.12SEK 271
$22.45MX$393
29.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.69SEK 388
$29.66MX$519
40.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.11SEK 373
$51.9MX$908
-22.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.77SEK 240
$18.67MX$327
38.03%
Cinema Ticket
$15.65SEK 146
$4.97MX$87.0
214.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$163SEK 1,511
$198MX$3,462
-17.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,189SEK 39.0K
$5,273MX$92.3K
-20.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.5SEK 879
$36.34MX$636
160.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.29SEK 458
$40.05MX$701
23.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.1SEK 549
$79.9MX$1,398
-26.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$208SEK 1,936
$88.9MX$1,555
134.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$842SEK 7,831
$963MX$16.9K
-12.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$648SEK 6,023
$465MX$8,133
39.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,420SEK 13.2K
$1,596MX$27.9K
-11.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,092SEK 10.2K
$1,209MX$21.2K
-9.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,517SEK 42.0K
$3,942MX$69.0K
14.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,779SEK 25.8K
$6,448MX$112.8K
-56.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,565SEK 23.9K
$720MX$12.6K
256.00%
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $842 in Mora and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mora pays 256% 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: $110 in Mora vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $251 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 Playa del Carmen?
Mora and Playa del Carmen differ by about 50% in total monthly costs ($1,933 vs $1,287 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?
Mora pays 256% more on average, 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 Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $842 in Mora versus $963 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 50% 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 $43.00 versus $110 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 $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,933 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 50% less than in Mora. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.