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 $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,142 in Falun, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,235 in Falun, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,328 in Falun, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 39% cheaper than Falun, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 3% below the global median, while Falun is 60% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Falun
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$12.98 SEK 122
-9.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$719
$69.4 SEK 651
-40.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
$9.32 SEK 87.4
14.16%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$60.8
$4.57 SEK 42.84
-22.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.09
$1.87 SEK 17.58
-19.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.82
$2.04 SEK 19.16
-52.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.0
$7.25 SEK 68.0
-59.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.0
$7.47 SEK 70.1
-40.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Falun
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.90
$1.38 SEK 12.93
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.69
$2.86 SEK 26.80
-33.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.29
$3.94 SEK 36.99
-58.38%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.30
$3.94 SEK 36.94
-36.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$13.14 SEK 123
-36.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$10.37 SEK 97.3
-19.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$185
$15.76 SEK 148
-31.92%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.00
$3.64 SEK 34.14
-28.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.18
$2.56 SEK 24.03
-42.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.84
$1.54 SEK 14.48
23.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.88
$5.63 SEK 52.8
-63.06%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.68
$1.50 SEK 14.02
18.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.76
$2.09 SEK 19.64
4.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$17.97
$2.73 SEK 25.62
-61.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.60
$1.66 SEK 15.60
-34.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.5
$7.42 SEK 69.5
-45.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$178
$10.71 SEK 100
-3.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.59
$1.70 SEK 15.99
0.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.50
$1.99 SEK 18.62
29.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Falun
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.81
$4.73 SEK 44.40
-89.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$457
$97.2 SEK 911
-72.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.4
$8.25 SEK 77.4
-60.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.05
$1.63 SEK 15.33
52.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.1
$76.8 SEK 721
-95.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.59
$1.86 SEK 17.45
-29.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$523.2K
$38.2K SEK 357.9K
-20.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$404.9K
$34.4K SEK 322.7K
-31.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Falun
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,432
$91.4 SEK 857
-9.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$384
$28.64 SEK 269
-22.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$507
$36.62 SEK 343
-19.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Falun
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$892
$71.8 SEK 673
-28.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
$24.84 SEK 233
-26.25%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.5
$15.55 SEK 146
-67.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Falun
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,470
$146 SEK 1,372
37.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.1K
$736 SEK 6,903
608.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Falun
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$638
$106 SEK 995
-65.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$688
$43.09 SEK 404
-7.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,356
$117 SEK 1,101
-33.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,505
$158 SEK 1,483
-44.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Falun
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.8K
$1,286 SEK 12.1K
-24.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,082
$957 SEK 8,974
-51.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
$1,963 SEK 18.4K
-16.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.1K
$1,602 SEK 15.0K
-23.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.2K
$4,404 SEK 41.3K
-10.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.3K
$3,027 SEK 28.4K
114.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Falun
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
$2,772 SEK 26.0K
-76.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
4
185.50%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Falun: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,286 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 318% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $69.0 in Falun. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $354 – 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 65% 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 $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,213 in Falun. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – 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 $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $146 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 42% 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 $1,297, than in Falun at $2,142. 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 $1,297 versus $2,142 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 – 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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