🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,804 in Fagersta.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,126 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,833 in Fagersta.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,980 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,863 in Fagersta.
🙂Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 30% less than in Fagersta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 5% below, Fagersta is 34% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Fagersta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87MX$204
$13.43SEK 126
-11.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$736
$69.1SEK 648
-37.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$183
$10.53SEK 98.7
1.14%
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$59.2
$4.51SEK 42.34
-23.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$25.81
$2.80SEK 26.26
-46.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.28
$2.47SEK 23.15
-61.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$51.9
$7.52SEK 70.5
-59.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$79.1
$7.59SEK 71.2
-39.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Fagersta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.61
$1.85SEK 17.37
-25.41%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$31.70
$3.16SEK 29.65
-41.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.65
$3.93SEK 36.89
-59.03%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.51
$3.95SEK 37.03
-34.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$142
$14.20SEK 133
-41.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$144
$11.94SEK 112
-29.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$183
$15.61SEK 146
-31.71%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.12
$3.67SEK 34.43
-28.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.53
$2.66SEK 24.96
-43.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$32.94
$1.57SEK 14.68
22.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.81
$5.62SEK 52.7
-62.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$31.88
$1.55SEK 14.52
20.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.81
$2.16SEK 20.29
4.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.23
$2.77SEK 25.95
-61.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.67
$1.74SEK 16.29
-37.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$71.2
$7.34SEK 68.8
-43.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$178
$10.58SEK 99.3
-1.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.59
$1.70SEK 15.95
1.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$44.85
$1.91SEK 17.92
36.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Fagersta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.30
$3.29SEK 30.84
-83.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$462
$75.3SEK 706
-64.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$53.7
$5.76SEK 54.1
-45.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.09
$1.63SEK 15.29
53.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$54.1
$21.23SEK 199
-85.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$21.88
$2.00SEK 18.80
-36.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KMX$521.3K
$33.2KSEK 311.7K
-8.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$404.5K
$33.6KSEK 315.4K
-29.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Fagersta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0MX$1,425
$91.4SEK 857
-9.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$390
$28.96SEK 272
-21.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$506
$36.23SEK 340
-18.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Fagersta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$875
$40.91SEK 384
24.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$315
$25.02SEK 235
-26.74%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$84.5
$16.07SEK 151
-69.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Fagersta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,386
$147SEK 1,375
34.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$90.6K
$731SEK 6,860
621.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Fagersta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$633
$104SEK 978
-64.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$685
$43.98SEK 413
-9.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,373
$114SEK 1,068
-29.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,536
$156SEK 1,461
-42.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Fagersta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.4K
$837SEK 7,852
14.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,189
$657SEK 6,159
-27.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.3K
$1,403SEK 13.2K
17.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.0K
$1,063SEK 9,969
15.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$67.2K
$4,023SEK 37.7K
-2.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$110.9K
$3,349SEK 31.4K
92.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Fagersta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$11.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
4.53
152.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Last update for Fagersta: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $956 in Playa del Carmen and $837 in Fagersta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $69.0 in Fagersta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $374 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 Fagersta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Fagersta?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 42% lower than in Fagersta. 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 vs Fagersta?
You'd need roughly $1,906 in Playa del Carmen and $2,706 in Fagersta 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 vs Fagersta?
Rent for a central apartment: $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $837 in Fagersta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or Fagersta?
Supermarket bills run roughly 50% higher in Fagersta. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen vs Fagersta?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $69.0 in Fagersta. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or Fagersta?
At $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,804 in Fagersta, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Fagersta. 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 Fagersta?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,271 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 Fagersta?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Fagersta 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 42% less than in Fagersta. 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