🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,959 in Fagersta.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,279 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,970 in Fagersta.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,292 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,981 in Fagersta.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 35% less than in Fagersta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 7% below, Fagersta is 43% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Fagersta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$14.46SEK 143
-19.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$812
$67.5SEK 665
-30.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$10.59SEK 104
12.18%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.6
$4.63SEK 45.67
-14.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.60
$2.75SEK 27.14
-48.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.22
$2.30SEK 22.62
-64.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$55.0
$7.39SEK 72.8
-56.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$7.39SEK 72.8
-8.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Fagersta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.89
$1.78SEK 17.55
-5.62%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.88
$3.28SEK 32.33
-32.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.45
$5.49SEK 54.1
-68.85%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.26
$5.04SEK 49.65
-45.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
$13.95SEK 137
-31.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$13.43SEK 132
-32.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
$17.79SEK 175
-27.99%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.81
$3.24SEK 31.90
-10.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.81
$2.67SEK 26.30
-43.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.03
$2.11SEK 20.83
1.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.96
$4.94SEK 48.72
-54.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.15
$1.47SEK 14.51
34.69%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.30
$1.87SEK 18.42
6.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.28
$2.38SEK 23.47
-48.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.63
$1.98SEK 19.54
-39.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.5
$7.49SEK 73.8
-39.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
$10.60SEK 104
-2.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.91
$2.04SEK 20.11
-20.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.67
$2.39SEK 23.54
20.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Fagersta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.35
$3.38SEK 33.32
-82.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$497
$80.6SEK 794
-64.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.9
$13.45SEK 133
-59.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.3
$2.13SEK 20.95
75.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.5
$82.6SEK 814
-93.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.48
$1.75SEK 17.21
-12.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.8K
$34.3KSEK 337.8K
-34.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$449.3K
$33.7KSEK 332.3K
-22.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Fagersta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,576
$185SEK 1,827
-50.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$435
$27.34SEK 269
-7.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$539
$49.34SEK 486
-36.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Fagersta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,159
$38.95SEK 384
72.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$502
$26.12SEK 257
11.45%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.8
$16.96SEK 167
-71.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Fagersta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,856
$228SEK 2,251
-2.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.9K
$5,225SEK 51.5K
-19.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Fagersta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$812
$103SEK 1,012
-54.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$764
$56.1SEK 553
-21.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,381
$98.3SEK 969
-18.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,598
$224SEK 2,210
-58.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Fagersta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
$839SEK 8,268
26.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,728
$610SEK 6,011
-36.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.1K
$1,378SEK 13.6K
55.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
$1,042SEK 10.3K
22.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$69.0K
$4,257SEK 42.0K
-6.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$112.1K
$2,881SEK 28.4K
125.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Fagersta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
3.2
257.81%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Last update for Fagersta: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen and $839 in Fagersta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $67.0 in Fagersta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $276 vs $398 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 55% 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 and in Fagersta?
You'd need roughly $1,899 in Playa del Carmen and $2,938 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 compared to Fagersta?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $839 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 in Fagersta?
Supermarket bills run roughly 44% 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 and in Fagersta?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $67.0 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 in Fagersta?
At $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,959 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 $1,266 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 55% 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