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

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$11.72 MX$204
$12.50 SEK 121
-6.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89 MX$731
$94.2 SEK 909
-55.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 MX$183
$11.90 SEK 115
-11.68%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.5
$4.82 SEK 46.44
-25.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.31
$2.14 SEK 20.67
-29.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 MX$15.96
$1.06 SEK 10.23
-13.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.96 MX$51.6
$8.49 SEK 81.8
-65.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41 MX$76.9
$6.95 SEK 67.0
-36.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kiruna
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 MX$24.35
$1.93 SEK 18.64
-27.46%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.87
$3.43 SEK 33.02
-45.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 MX$27.19
$5.03 SEK 48.51
-68.99%
Eggs
$2.61 MX$45.50
$4.76 SEK 45.92
-45.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.32 MX$145
$12.74 SEK 123
-34.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.35 MX$146
$14.17 SEK 137
-41.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 MX$189
$27.29 SEK 263
-60.21%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 MX$47.31
$2.63 SEK 25.32
3.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$26.25
$2.83 SEK 27.29
-46.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.67
$2.62 SEK 25.26
-28.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$38.19
$4.33 SEK 41.71
-49.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$32.40
$2.20 SEK 21.24
-15.45%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 MX$38.90
$1.64 SEK 15.80
35.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.63
$3.53 SEK 34.07
-69.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.94
$1.45 SEK 14.00
-24.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MX$73.0
$7.46 SEK 71.9
-43.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.43 MX$182
$9.49 SEK 91.5
9.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 MX$28.91
$1.87 SEK 18.07
-11.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$45.56
$1.78 SEK 17.16
46.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kiruna
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.45
$3.34 SEK 32.17
-83.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.16 MX$456
$74.8 SEK 721
-65.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 MX$53.7
$9.40 SEK 90.6
-67.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$41.94
$1.59 SEK 15.35
50.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$54.5
$72.7 SEK 701
-95.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.87
$1.95 SEK 18.79
-32.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K MX$519.9K
$32.9K SEK 317.0K
-9.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$406.8K
$34.9K SEK 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)
$81.3 MX$1,418
$169 SEK 1,634
-52.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56 MX$393
$32.04 SEK 309
-29.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05 MX$524
$27.79 SEK 268
8.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kiruna
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.9 MX$923
$46.83 SEK 451
12.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 MX$321
$25.54 SEK 246
-28.00%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92 MX$85.8
$13.58 SEK 131
-63.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kiruna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,502
$164 SEK 1,578
22.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,175 MX$90.2K
$4,136 SEK 39.9K
25.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kiruna
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92 MX$627
$125 SEK 1,202
-71.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13 MX$700
$34.11 SEK 329
17.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.7 MX$1,390
$129 SEK 1,246
-38.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5 MX$1,508
$169 SEK 1,633
-48.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kiruna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$978 MX$17.1K
$839 SEK 8,090
16.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 MX$8,206
$628 SEK 6,059
-25.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,651 MX$28.8K
$1,405 SEK 13.5K
17.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,203 MX$21.0K
$1,141 SEK 11.0K
5.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,953 MX$69.0K
$4,318 SEK 41.6K
-8.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,607 MX$115.2K
$2,801 SEK 27.0K
135.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kiruna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$677 MX$11.8K
$3,319 SEK 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.

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