๐A single person spends $1,262 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,178 in Falun, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $2,158 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,277 in Falun, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $3,054 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,376 in Falun, rent included.
๐Playa del Carmen is about 42% cheaper than Falun, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Falun is 62% above โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Falun
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.61MX$201
$13.09SEKย 120
-11.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$742
$67.6SEKย 621
-36.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.60MX$184
$9.60SEKย 88.3
10.42%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.3
$4.41SEKย 40.53
-18.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.21
$1.88SEKย 17.27
-22.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90MX$15.58
$2.00SEKย 18.41
-55.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$7.39SEKย 68.0
-59.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56MX$79.2
$7.19SEKย 66.1
-36.58%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Falun
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.45MX$25.20
$1.39SEKย 12.75
4.32%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83MX$31.72
$3.01SEKย 27.64
-39.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.92
$3.90SEKย 35.87
-58.72%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.05
$3.87SEKย 35.59
-34.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.54MX$148
$13.05SEKย 120
-34.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.47MX$147
$10.60SEKย 97.5
-20.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$189
$15.94SEKย 146
-31.87%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.37
$3.51SEKย 32.25
-22.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.91
$2.59SEKย 23.76
-42.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94MX$33.73
$1.60SEKย 14.75
21.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.57
$5.74SEKย 52.7
-62.37%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.05
$1.52SEKย 13.95
21.71%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$38.00
$2.14SEKย 19.68
2.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.62
$2.68SEKย 24.65
-60.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.81
$1.69SEKย 15.57
-36.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06MX$70.5
$7.32SEKย 67.3
-44.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.46MX$182
$13.08SEKย 120
-20.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65MX$28.71
$1.74SEKย 15.98
-5.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55MX$44.23
$1.91SEKย 17.59
33.51%
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Falun
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56MX$9.65
$4.69SEKย 43.07
-88.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.20MX$455
$96.7SEKย 889
-72.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$54.5
$8.62SEKย 79.2
-63.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.37MX$41.17
$1.58SEKย 14.48
50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.2
$77.4SEKย 711
-95.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.81
$1.93SEKย 17.70
-32.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5KMX$530.2K
$37.4KSEKย 343.8K
-18.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$413.6K
$33.9KSEKย 311.1K
-29.63%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Falun
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.1MX$1,443
$91.3SEKย 839
-8.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.15MX$385
$28.05SEKย 258
-21.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.37MX$510
$37.30SEKย 343
-21.26%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Falun
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.2MX$889
$71.6SEKย 658
-28.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69MX$324
$25.39SEKย 233
-26.39%
Cinema Ticket
$4.89MX$84.9
$15.79SEKย 145
-69.03%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Falun
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$199MX$3,449
$145SEKย 1,333
36.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,207MX$90.4K
$745SEKย 6,845
599.08%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Falun
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93MX$624
$106SEKย 970
-65.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.39MX$684
$44.55SEKย 409
-11.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.3MX$1,394
$115SEKย 1,055
-30.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6MX$1,520
$154SEKย 1,414
-43.08%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Falun
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.7K
$1,289SEKย 11.8K
-25.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482MX$8,370
$952SEKย 8,746
-49.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,645MX$28.6K
$1,956SEKย 18.0K
-15.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,192MX$20.7K
$1,607SEKย 14.8K
-25.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,957MX$68.7K
$4,132SEKย 38.0K
-4.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,513MX$113.1K
$2,957SEKย 27.2K
120.25%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Falun
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$726MX$12.6K
$2,776SEKย 25.5K
-73.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
4
185.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026
Last update for Falun: April 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,289 in Falun. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐ฐSalaries run about 282% higher in Falun, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $68 in Falun. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $362 โ making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Falun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Falun?
Falun costs about 73% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen vs Falun?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,894 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,267 in Falun. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Falun?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and Falun?
Kindergarten costs $199 per month in Playa del Carmen and $145 in Falun. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or Falun?
Groceries cost about 43% more in Falun, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or Falun?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,262, than in Falun at $2,178. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Falun it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Falun?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,262 versus $2,178 in Falun. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Falun?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or Falun?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Falun makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared