😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,891 in Mora versus $1,294 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,020 in Mora versus $2,189 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,148 in Mora versus $3,084 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Mora is roughly 46% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mora is 42% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.88SEK 92.4
$11.73MX$202
-15.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$112SEK 1,044
$41.78MX$719
166.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.70SEK 109
$10.41MX$179
12.39%
Cappuccino
$4.97SEK 46.44
$3.61MX$62.1
37.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13SEK 10.53
$1.46MX$25.06
-22.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46SEK 22.99
$0.97MX$16.70
153.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.49SEK 79.4
$2.92MX$50.3
190.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.27SEK 77.3
$4.62MX$79.5
79.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73SEK 16.17
$1.43MX$24.59
20.98%
White Bread(500g)
$3.41SEK 31.94
$1.90MX$32.70
79.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.81SEK 26.33
$1.57MX$26.95
78.98%
Eggs
$4.66SEK 43.55
$2.64MX$45.34
76.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.77SEK 119
$8.44MX$145
51.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.54SEK 108
$8.58MX$148
34.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.25SEK 180
$11.00MX$189
75.00%
Apples(1kg)
$3.54SEK 33.14
$2.70MX$46.51
31.11%
Banana(1kg)
$2.51SEK 23.46
$1.51MX$25.92
66.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.53SEK 33.00
$1.91MX$32.93
84.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.57SEK 42.76
$2.17MX$37.37
110.60%
Potato(1kg)
$1.49SEK 13.91
$1.87MX$32.25
-20.32%
Onion(1kg)
$1.58SEK 14.83
$2.23MX$38.43
-29.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.53SEK 23.62
$1.08MX$18.60
134.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70SEK 6.50
$1.07MX$18.47
-34.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.18SEK 57.8
$4.16MX$71.6
48.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.84SEK 120
$10.29MX$177
24.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15SEK 20.08
$1.68MX$28.95
27.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35SEK 21.94
$2.53MX$43.59
-7.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Mora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.31SEK 30.98
$0.55MX$9.53
501.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$75.1SEK 702
$26.29MX$452
185.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.27SEK 58.7
$3.20MX$55.0
95.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59SEK 14.86
$2.46MX$42.37
-35.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$62.6SEK 585
$3.20MX$55.0
1855.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.79SEK 16.73
$1.32MX$22.72
35.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8KSEK 306.7K
$30.2KMX$518.8K
8.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KSEK 333.6K
$23.4KMX$402.5K
52.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$229SEK 2,146
$81.4MX$1,400
182.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.49SEK 276
$22.41MX$386
31.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.84SEK 391
$29.97MX$516
39.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.07SEK 375
$51.6MX$887
-22.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.27SEK 236
$18.39MX$316
37.41%
Cinema Ticket
$15.85SEK 148
$5.16MX$88.9
207.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$165SEK 1,543
$202MX$3,471
-18.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,117SEK 38.5K
$5,311MX$91.4K
-22.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.2SEK 890
$35.61MX$613
167.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.36SEK 462
$40.37MX$695
22.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$57.4SEK 537
$78.6MX$1,353
-27.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$201SEK 1,879
$86.9MX$1,495
131.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$833SEK 7,791
$950MX$16.3K
-12.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$652SEK 6,098
$478MX$8,227
36.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,382SEK 12.9K
$1,621MX$27.9K
-14.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,062SEK 9,934
$1,223MX$21.0K
-13.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,178SEK 39.1K
$4,009MX$69.0K
4.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,149SEK 29.5K
$6,473MX$111.4K
-51.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,587SEK 24.2K
$673MX$11.6K
284.38%
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: June 15, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $833 in Mora and $950 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mora pays 284% 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: $112 in Mora vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $372 vs $254 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 46% in total monthly costs ($1,891 vs $1,294 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 284% 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: $833 in Mora versus $950 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 47% 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 $112 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 $1,294 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,891 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 46% less than in Mora. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.