🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,818 in Almhult.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,125 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,874 in Almhult.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,990 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,930 in Almhult.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 31% less than in Almhult, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 5% below, Almhult is 37% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Almhult
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$13.86SEK 132
-15.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$725
$90.5SEK 860
-53.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
$10.35SEK 98.3
1.55%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.0
$4.94SEK 46.96
-27.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.10
$3.05SEK 28.97
-50.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.83
$2.61SEK 24.82
-64.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
$6.71SEK 63.7
-55.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.3
$7.95SEK 75.6
-44.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Almhult
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.16
$1.74SEK 16.56
-19.54%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.60
$2.98SEK 28.34
-36.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$26.97
$3.29SEK 31.30
-52.58%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.14
$3.85SEK 36.55
-32.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$11.61SEK 110
-28.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$12.34SEK 117
-32.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
$18.17SEK 173
-40.23%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$46.93
$2.62SEK 24.91
3.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.04
$2.37SEK 22.47
-36.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.41
$2.93SEK 27.80
-36.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.89
$4.29SEK 40.80
-48.95%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.14
$1.72SEK 16.32
8.14%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.59
$1.34SEK 12.69
66.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.48
$1.54SEK 14.67
-30.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.79
$1.55SEK 14.73
-29.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.4
$7.03SEK 66.8
-40.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$180
$14.51SEK 138
-28.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.68
$1.55SEK 14.71
7.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.19
$2.61SEK 24.79
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Almhult
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$3.40SEK 32.35
-84.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
$74.5SEK 708
-64.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
$10.44SEK 99.2
-70.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.61
$1.64SEK 15.55
46.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.1
$61.3SEK 582
-94.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.69
$1.96SEK 18.58
-33.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$515.7K
$32.9KSEK 312.1K
-9.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$403.5K
$34.6KSEK 328.3K
-32.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Almhult
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,406
$136SEK 1,293
-40.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$390
$24.90SEK 237
-9.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$520
$39.27SEK 373
-23.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Almhult
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$915
$41.07SEK 390
28.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$318
$25.14SEK 239
-26.85%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.1
$17.58SEK 167
-72.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Almhult
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,474
$175SEK 1,663
14.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.5K
$4,173SEK 39.6K
24.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Almhult
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
$90.2SEK 857
-60.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$694
$39.84SEK 378
0.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,379
$96.4SEK 915
-17.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,496
$154SEK 1,460
-43.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Almhult
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
$835SEK 7,928
17.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,140
$654SEK 6,212
-28.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
$1,411SEK 13.4K
17.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.8K
$1,075SEK 10.2K
11.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.4K
$4,289SEK 40.7K
-7.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.3K
$2,481SEK 23.6K
166.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Almhult
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
4.33
163.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Last update for Almhult: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $978 in Playa del Carmen and $835 in Almhult. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $90.0 in Almhult for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $362 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
Playa del Carmen vs Almhult: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Almhult?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 44% lower than in Almhult. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen and in Almhult?
You'd need roughly $1,890 in Playa del Carmen and $2,727 in Almhult to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen compared to Almhult?
Rent for a central apartment: $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $835 in Almhult. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Playa del Carmen compared to Almhult?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 185% less than in Almhult. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Almhult?
Childcare runs $201 in Playa del Carmen versus $175 in Almhult. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or in Almhult?
At $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,818 in Almhult, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Almhult. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Almhult?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,260 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Almhult?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Almhult are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Almhult. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared