Cost of Living Comparison Between Norrkoping and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Norrkoping and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,775 in Norrkoping versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,719 in Norrkoping versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,663 in Norrkoping versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Norrkoping is roughly 40% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Norrkoping is 32% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Norrkoping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.46 SEK 117
$11.87 MX$204
4.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.5 SEK 643
$42.90 MX$736
59.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.63 SEK 99.7
$10.65 MX$183
-0.19%
Cappuccino
$4.83 SEK 45.32
$3.45 MX$59.2
40.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 SEK 22.74
$1.50 MX$25.81
61.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 SEK 16.84
$0.95 MX$16.28
89.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.28 SEK 68.3
$3.03 MX$51.9
140.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.97 SEK 74.7
$4.61 MX$79.1
72.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Norrkoping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 SEK 15.43
$1.38 MX$23.61
18.84%
White Bread (500g)
$2.87 SEK 26.93
$1.85 MX$31.70
55.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.67 SEK 43.76
$1.61 MX$27.65
190.06%
Eggs
$4.39 SEK 41.18
$2.59 MX$44.51
69.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.37 SEK 116
$8.26 MX$142
49.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.14 SEK 133
$8.37 MX$144
68.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.37 SEK 154
$10.66 MX$183
53.56%
Apples (1kg)
$3.12 SEK 29.31
$2.63 MX$45.12
18.63%
Banana (1kg)
$2.78 SEK 26.07
$1.49 MX$25.53
86.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.74 SEK 35.10
$1.92 MX$32.94
94.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.95 SEK 46.42
$2.09 MX$35.81
136.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.48 SEK 13.88
$1.86 MX$31.88
-20.43%
Onion (1kg)
$1.80 SEK 16.88
$2.26 MX$38.81
-20.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 SEK 18.08
$1.06 MX$18.23
82.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 SEK 11.93
$1.09 MX$18.67
16.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.53 SEK 70.6
$4.15 MX$71.2
81.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.46 SEK 98.1
$10.39 MX$178
0.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85 SEK 17.37
$1.72 MX$29.59
7.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 SEK 23.97
$2.61 MX$44.85
-2.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Norrkoping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.53 SEK 33.08
$0.54 MX$9.30
553.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$117 SEK 1,097
$26.94 MX$462
333.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.81 SEK 54.5
$3.13 MX$53.7
85.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 SEK 15.62
$2.51 MX$43.09
-33.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$63.5 SEK 596
$3.15 MX$54.1
1917.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.94 SEK 18.18
$1.27 MX$21.88
52.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0K SEK 309.4K
$30.4K MX$521.3K
8.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8K SEK 326.7K
$23.6K MX$404.5K
47.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Norrkoping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$105 SEK 987
$83.0 MX$1,425
26.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.59 SEK 259
$22.71 MX$390
21.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.55 SEK 409
$29.46 MX$506
47.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Norrkoping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.56 SEK 343
$51.0 MX$875
-28.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$42.51 SEK 399
$18.33 MX$315
131.91%
Cinema Ticket
$15.80 SEK 148
$4.93 MX$84.5
220.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Norrkoping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$150 SEK 1,405
$197 MX$3,386
-24.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,447 SEK 13.6K
$5,280 MX$90.6K
-72.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Norrkoping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.1 SEK 752
$36.90 MX$633
117.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.34 SEK 341
$39.89 MX$685
-8.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.6 SEK 888
$80.0 MX$1,373
18.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 SEK 1,103
$89.5 MX$1,536
31.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Norrkoping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$708 SEK 6,641
$956 MX$16.4K
-25.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$610 SEK 5,724
$477 MX$8,189
27.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,215 SEK 11.4K
$1,646 MX$28.3K
-26.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$898 SEK 8,422
$1,225 MX$21.0K
-26.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,927 SEK 36.8K
$3,918 MX$67.2K
0.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,012 SEK 28.3K
$6,459 MX$110.9K
-53.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Norrkoping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,292 SEK 30.9K
$667 MX$11.4K
393.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.8
11.42
-57.97%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Norrkoping: June 7, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $708 in Norrkoping and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Norrkoping pays 394% 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: $69.0 in Norrkoping vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $377 vs $250 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
Norrkoping vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Norrkoping and Playa del Carmen?
Norrkoping and Playa del Carmen differ by about 40% in total monthly costs ($1,775 vs $1,271 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: Norrkoping or Playa del Carmen?
Norrkoping pays 394% 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 Norrkoping and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $708 in Norrkoping versus $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Norrkoping or Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,775 per month in Norrkoping versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Norrkoping and Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 334% less than in Norrkoping. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,775 in Norrkoping, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Norrkoping. 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 Norrkoping 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 Norrkoping or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Norrkoping 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: Norrkoping or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Norrkoping. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Norrkoping vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities