🙂A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,923 in Kiruna, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,123 in Kiruna, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,323 in Kiruna, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 34% cheaper than Kiruna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 5% below the global median, while Kiruna is 45% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kiruna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$204
$12.50SEK 121
-6.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$731
$94.2SEK 909
-55.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$183
$11.90SEK 115
-11.68%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.5
$4.82SEK 46.44
-25.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.31
$2.14SEK 20.67
-29.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.96
$1.06SEK 10.23
-13.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.6
$8.49SEK 81.8
-65.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.9
$6.95SEK 67.0
-36.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kiruna
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.35
$1.93SEK 18.64
-27.46%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.87
$3.43SEK 33.02
-45.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$27.19
$5.03SEK 48.51
-68.99%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.50
$4.76SEK 45.92
-45.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$145
$12.74SEK 123
-34.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$146
$14.17SEK 137
-41.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$189
$27.29SEK 263
-60.21%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$47.31
$2.63SEK 25.32
3.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.25
$2.83SEK 27.29
-46.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.67
$2.62SEK 25.26
-28.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$38.19
$4.33SEK 41.71
-49.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.40
$2.20SEK 21.24
-15.45%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.90
$1.64SEK 15.80
35.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.63
$3.53SEK 34.07
-69.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.94
$1.45SEK 14.00
-24.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$73.0
$7.46SEK 71.9
-43.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$182
$9.49SEK 91.5
9.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.91
$1.87SEK 18.07
-11.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.56
$1.78SEK 17.16
46.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kiruna
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.45
$3.34SEK 32.17
-83.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$456
$74.8SEK 721
-65.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.7
$9.40SEK 90.6
-67.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.94
$1.59SEK 15.35
50.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.5
$72.7SEK 701
-95.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.87
$1.95SEK 18.79
-32.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$519.9K
$32.9KSEK 317.0K
-9.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$406.8K
$34.9KSEK 336.2K
-33.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kiruna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,418
$169SEK 1,634
-52.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$393
$32.04SEK 309
-29.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$524
$27.79SEK 268
8.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kiruna
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$923
$46.83SEK 451
12.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$321
$25.54SEK 246
-28.00%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.8
$13.58SEK 131
-63.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kiruna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,502
$164SEK 1,578
22.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$90.2K
$4,136SEK 39.9K
25.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kiruna
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$627
$125SEK 1,202
-71.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$700
$34.11SEK 329
17.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,390
$129SEK 1,246
-38.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,508
$169SEK 1,633
-48.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kiruna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$17.1K
$839SEK 8,090
16.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,206
$628SEK 6,059
-25.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.8K
$1,405SEK 13.5K
17.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$21.0K
$1,141SEK 11.0K
5.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$69.0K
$4,318SEK 41.6K
-8.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$115.2K
$2,801SEK 27.0K
135.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kiruna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.8K
$3,319SEK 32.0K
-79.62%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Kiruna: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $839 in Kiruna. 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 391% higher in Kiruna, 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 $94.0 in Kiruna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $419 – 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 Kiruna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and in Kiruna compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, $1,923 in Kiruna – roughly 53% apart. Kiruna costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Kiruna?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,885 in Kiruna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Playa del Carmen and Kiruna?
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.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 67% more in Kiruna, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen and $94.0 in Kiruna. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,260, than in Kiruna at $1,923. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kiruna it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Kiruna?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,260 in Playa del Carmen to $1,923 in Kiruna. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Playa del Carmen or Kiruna safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Kiruna?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kiruna makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared