๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,732 in Nykรถping versus $1,294 in Playa del Carmen.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,666 in Nykรถping versus $2,189 in Playa del Carmen.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,601 in Nykรถping versus $3,084 in Playa del Carmen.
๐Living in Nykรถping is roughly 34% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Nykรถping is 30% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Nykรถping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.39SEKย 97.2
$11.73MX$202
-11.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.2SEKย 684
$41.78MX$719
75.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.63SEKย 99.4
$10.41MX$179
2.11%
Cappuccino
$4.73SEKย 44.26
$3.61MX$62.1
31.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83SEKย 26.51
$1.46MX$25.06
93.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42SEKย 22.66
$0.97MX$16.70
149.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.92SEKย 74.1
$2.92MX$50.3
171.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.25SEKย 67.9
$4.62MX$79.5
56.93%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Nykรถping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65SEKย 15.45
$1.43MX$24.59
15.38%
White Bread(500g)
$2.79SEKย 26.13
$1.90MX$32.70
46.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.95SEKย 36.97
$1.57MX$26.95
151.59%
Eggs
$4.16SEKย 38.95
$2.64MX$45.34
57.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.14SEKย 114
$8.44MX$145
43.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.85SEKย 111
$8.58MX$148
38.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.42SEKย 163
$11.00MX$189
58.36%
Apples(1kg)
$2.36SEKย 22.04
$2.70MX$46.51
-12.59%
Banana(1kg)
$2.66SEKย 24.85
$1.51MX$25.92
76.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.08SEKย 28.85
$1.91MX$32.93
61.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.32SEKย 40.37
$2.17MX$37.37
99.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.64SEKย 15.36
$1.87MX$32.25
-12.30%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78SEKย 16.64
$2.23MX$38.43
-20.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.14SEKย 10.68
$1.08MX$18.60
5.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.38SEKย 12.90
$1.07MX$18.47
28.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.30SEKย 68.3
$4.16MX$71.6
75.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.37SEKย 87.6
$10.29MX$177
-8.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.89SEKย 17.70
$1.68MX$28.95
12.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89SEKย 17.66
$2.53MX$43.59
-25.30%
๐ Getting Around
Nykรถping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.29SEKย 30.74
$0.55MX$9.53
498.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$48.77SEKย 456
$26.29MX$452
85.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.38SEKย 59.7
$3.20MX$55.0
99.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.65SEKย 15.45
$2.46MX$42.37
-32.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.1SEKย 571
$3.20MX$55.0
1809.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09SEKย 19.58
$1.32MX$22.72
58.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3KSEKย 301.9K
$30.2KMX$518.8K
7.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9KSEKย 317.2K
$23.4KMX$402.5K
44.95%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nykรถping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$116SEKย 1,080
$81.4MX$1,400
41.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.90SEKย 270
$22.41MX$386
28.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.01SEKย 225
$29.97MX$516
-19.89%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Nykรถping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.03SEKย 365
$51.6MX$887
-24.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.37SEKย 237
$18.39MX$316
37.96%
Cinema Ticket
$15.76SEKย 147
$5.16MX$88.9
205.43%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Nykรถping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$146SEKย 1,369
$202MX$3,471
-27.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,202SEKย 39.3K
$5,311MX$91.4K
-20.88%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Nykรถping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.0SEKย 879
$35.61MX$613
164.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.70SEKย 381
$40.37MX$695
0.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.2SEKย 899
$78.6MX$1,353
22.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153SEKย 1,431
$86.9MX$1,495
76.09%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Nykรถping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$848SEKย 7,934
$950MX$16.3K
-10.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$664SEKย 6,212
$478MX$8,227
38.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,371SEKย 12.8K
$1,621MX$27.9K
-15.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,087SEKย 10.2K
$1,223MX$21.0K
-11.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,937SEKย 36.8K
$4,009MX$69.0K
-1.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,933SEKย 27.4K
$6,473MX$111.4K
-54.68%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Nykรถping
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,669SEKย 25.0K
$673MX$11.6K
296.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.53
11.42
-60.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nykรถping: June 14, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $848 in Nykรถping and $950 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐNykรถping pays 297% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $73.0 in Nykรถping vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $348 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
Nykรถping vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Nykรถping and Playa del Carmen?
Nykรถping and Playa del Carmen differ by about 34% in total monthly costs ($1,732 vs $1,294 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Nykรถping or Playa del Carmen?
Nykรถping pays 297% 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 Nykรถping and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $848 in Nykรถping versus $950 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Nykรถping and Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $146 in Nykรถping versus $202 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in Nykรถping. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,294 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,732 in Nykรถping, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Nykรถping. 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 Nykรถping and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Nykรถping or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Nykรถping 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: Nykรถping or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 34% less than in Nykรถping. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.