😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,810 in Mora versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,931 in Mora versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,052 in Mora versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Mora is roughly 43% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mora is 32% above, Playa del Carmen is 7% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.62SEK 105
$11.60MX$200
-8.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$105SEK 1,038
$47.11MX$812
123.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.79SEK 116
$11.88MX$205
-0.76%
Cappuccino
$5.14SEK 50.6
$3.98MX$68.6
29.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13SEK 11.15
$1.43MX$24.60
-20.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32SEK 32.73
$0.82MX$14.22
304.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.34SEK 82.2
$3.19MX$55.0
161.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.30SEK 91.7
$6.79MX$117
36.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80SEK 17.75
$1.68MX$28.89
7.14%
White Bread(500g)
$3.68SEK 36.24
$2.20MX$37.88
67.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.84SEK 28.00
$1.71MX$29.45
66.08%
Eggs
$5.24SEK 51.6
$2.74MX$47.26
91.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.11SEK 129
$9.58MX$165
36.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.62SEK 115
$9.01MX$155
28.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.12SEK 218
$12.81MX$221
72.68%
Apples(1kg)
$3.66SEK 36.07
$2.89MX$49.81
26.64%
Banana(1kg)
$2.53SEK 24.93
$1.50MX$25.81
68.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.24SEK 31.89
$2.15MX$37.03
50.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.69SEK 46.18
$2.26MX$38.96
107.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.48SEK 14.55
$1.98MX$34.15
-25.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51SEK 14.87
$1.99MX$34.30
-24.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.42SEK 23.80
$1.23MX$21.28
96.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75SEK 7.37
$1.20MX$20.63
-37.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.21SEK 61.2
$4.55MX$78.5
36.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.42SEK 122
$10.37MX$179
19.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07SEK 20.39
$1.62MX$27.91
27.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58SEK 25.38
$2.88MX$49.67
-10.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Mora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.43SEK 33.77
$0.60MX$10.35
471.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$78.9SEK 777
$28.80MX$497
173.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.10SEK 60.1
$5.39MX$92.9
13.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60SEK 15.76
$3.73MX$64.3
-57.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$57.8SEK 569
$5.77MX$99.5
901.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.88SEK 18.57
$1.54MX$26.48
22.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0KSEK 335.3K
$22.5KMX$388.8K
50.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8KSEK 342.9K
$26.1KMX$449.3K
33.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$109SEK 1,075
$91.4MX$1,576
19.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.75SEK 224
$25.20MX$435
-9.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.27SEK 407
$31.24MX$539
32.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.04SEK 385
$67.2MX$1,159
-41.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.31SEK 259
$29.11MX$502
-9.62%
Cinema Ticket
$15.71SEK 155
$4.86MX$83.8
223.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$169SEK 1,665
$224MX$3,856
-24.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,253SEK 51.8K
$4,229MX$72.9K
24.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.5SEK 941
$47.10MX$812
102.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.9SEK 551
$44.29MX$764
26.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$57.7SEK 569
$80.1MX$1,381
-27.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$197SEK 1,944
$92.7MX$1,598
112.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$834SEK 8,220
$1,063MX$18.3K
-21.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$603SEK 5,944
$390MX$6,728
54.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,383SEK 13.6K
$2,149MX$37.1K
-35.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,051SEK 10.4K
$1,272MX$21.9K
-17.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,161SEK 41.0K
$4,001MX$69.0K
3.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,872SEK 28.3K
$6,502MX$112.1K
-55.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mora
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,533SEK 25.0K
$758MX$13.1K
234.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.31
11.45
-71.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mora: September 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $834 in Mora and $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mora pays 234% 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: $105 in Mora vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $387 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
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 43% in total monthly costs ($1,810 vs $1,266 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 234% 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: $834 in Mora versus $1,063 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 40% 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 $47.00 versus $105 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 $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,810 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 43% less than in Mora. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.