Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Falun Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Falun

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,262 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,178 in Falun, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,158 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,277 in Falun, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,054 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,376 in Falun, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 42% cheaper than Falun, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Falun is 62% above โ€“ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Falun
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.61 MX$201
$13.09 SEKย 120
-11.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$742
$67.6 SEKย 621
-36.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.60 MX$184
$9.60 SEKย 88.3
10.42%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.3
$4.41 SEKย 40.53
-18.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$25.21
$1.88 SEKย 17.27
-22.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 MX$15.58
$2.00 SEKย 18.41
-55.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$52.6
$7.39 SEKย 68.0
-59.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56 MX$79.2
$7.19 SEKย 66.1
-36.58%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Falun
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 MX$25.20
$1.39 SEKย 12.75
4.32%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 MX$31.72
$3.01 SEKย 27.64
-39.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.92
$3.90 SEKย 35.87
-58.72%
Eggs
$2.54 MX$44.05
$3.87 SEKย 35.59
-34.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.54 MX$148
$13.05 SEKย 120
-34.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.47 MX$147
$10.60 SEKย 97.5
-20.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 MX$189
$15.94 SEKย 146
-31.87%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 MX$47.37
$3.51 SEKย 32.25
-22.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 MX$25.91
$2.59 SEKย 23.76
-42.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 MX$33.73
$1.60 SEKย 14.75
21.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.57
$5.74 SEKย 52.7
-62.37%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 MX$32.05
$1.52 SEKย 13.95
21.71%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$38.00
$2.14 SEKย 19.68
2.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.62
$2.68 SEKย 24.65
-60.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.81
$1.69 SEKย 15.57
-36.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06 MX$70.5
$7.32 SEKย 67.3
-44.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.46 MX$182
$13.08 SEKย 120
-20.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 MX$28.71
$1.74 SEKย 15.98
-5.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 MX$44.23
$1.91 SEKย 17.59
33.51%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Falun
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.56 MX$9.65
$4.69 SEKย 43.07
-88.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.20 MX$455
$96.7 SEKย 889
-72.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$54.5
$8.62 SEKย 79.2
-63.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.37 MX$41.17
$1.58 SEKย 14.48
50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$56.2
$77.4 SEKย 711
-95.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.81
$1.93 SEKย 17.70
-32.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K MX$530.2K
$37.4K SEKย 343.8K
-18.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K MX$413.6K
$33.9K SEKย 311.1K
-29.63%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Falun
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.1 MX$1,443
$91.3 SEKย 839
-8.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.15 MX$385
$28.05 SEKย 258
-21.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.37 MX$510
$37.30 SEKย 343
-21.26%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Falun
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.2 MX$889
$71.6 SEKย 658
-28.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69 MX$324
$25.39 SEKย 233
-26.39%
Cinema Ticket
$4.89 MX$84.9
$15.79 SEKย 145
-69.03%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Falun
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$199 MX$3,449
$145 SEKย 1,333
36.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,207 MX$90.4K
$745 SEKย 6,845
599.08%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Falun
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93 MX$624
$106 SEKย 970
-65.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.39 MX$684
$44.55 SEKย 409
-11.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.3 MX$1,394
$115 SEKย 1,055
-30.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6 MX$1,520
$154 SEKย 1,414
-43.08%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Falun
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.7K
$1,289 SEKย 11.8K
-25.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 MX$8,370
$952 SEKย 8,746
-49.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,645 MX$28.6K
$1,956 SEKย 18.0K
-15.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,192 MX$20.7K
$1,607 SEKย 14.8K
-25.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,957 MX$68.7K
$4,132 SEKย 38.0K
-4.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,513 MX$113.1K
$2,957 SEKย 27.2K
120.25%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Falun
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$726 MX$12.6K
$2,776 SEKย 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

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.

Salaries 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.

A 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.

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