🙂A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,812 in Haparanda, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,763 in Haparanda, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,714 in Haparanda, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 29% cheaper than Haparanda, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 4% below the global median, while Haparanda is 35% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Haparanda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$13.60SEK 127
-12.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$72.8SEK 677
-41.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$10.47SEK 97.4
1.15%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$4.77SEK 44.40
-24.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$2.77SEK 25.80
-46.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$2.43SEK 22.57
-61.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$7.81SEK 72.6
-60.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$7.52SEK 69.9
-40.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Haparanda
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.62SEK 15.11
-11.73%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$2.79SEK 25.97
-32.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$3.74SEK 34.80
-56.42%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$4.02SEK 37.43
-34.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$12.10SEK 113
-32.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$11.77SEK 109
-29.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$16.97SEK 158
-34.59%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$3.05SEK 28.38
-13.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$2.59SEK 24.05
-42.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$3.10SEK 28.87
-35.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$4.53SEK 42.15
-54.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$1.63SEK 15.13
9.82%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$1.83SEK 17.02
19.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$2.51SEK 23.38
-56.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$1.52SEK 14.12
-31.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$7.52SEK 69.9
-47.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$10.92SEK 102
-6.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$1.93SEK 17.98
-10.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$1.90SEK 17.66
31.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Haparanda
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$3.45SEK 32.09
-84.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
$74.7SEK 695
-63.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$6.24SEK 58.0
-49.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$1.66SEK 15.42
44.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$62.2SEK 579
-95.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$1.89SEK 17.59
-32.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$32.9KSEK 305.6K
-6.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$34.5KSEK 321.1K
-32.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Haparanda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$114SEK 1,058
-27.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$28.84SEK 268
-22.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$37.29SEK 347
-20.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Haparanda
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$39.78SEK 370
30.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
$25.66SEK 239
-27.24%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$15.71SEK 146
-68.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Haparanda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$149SEK 1,383
32.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$4,111SEK 38.2K
28.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Haparanda
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$95.9SEK 892
-62.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$41.25SEK 384
-2.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$98.4SEK 915
-18.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$152SEK 1,415
-41.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Haparanda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$829SEK 7,707
16.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$646SEK 6,008
-28.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$1,390SEK 12.9K
14.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$1,081SEK 10.1K
11.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$3,729SEK 34.7K
5.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
$2,889SEK 26.9K
123.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Haparanda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$2,987SEK 27.8K
-75.88%
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: April 25, 2026
Last update for Haparanda: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $829 in Haparanda. 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 315% higher in Haparanda, 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $73.0 in Haparanda. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $359 – 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 Haparanda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Haparanda cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Haparanda is pricier by about 41%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,718 in Haparanda. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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 food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Haparanda?
Groceries cost about 43% more in Haparanda, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or Haparanda?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen and $73.0 in Haparanda. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Haparanda?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,287, than in Haparanda at $1,812. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Haparanda it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Haparanda more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Haparanda?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Haparanda makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared