🙂A single person spends $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,965 in Kiruna, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,130 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,097 in Kiruna, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,999 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,229 in Kiruna, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 36% cheaper than Kiruna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Kiruna is 47% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kiruna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.67MX$202
$12.70SEK 117
-8.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.88MX$726
$95.3SEK 877
-56.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.40MX$180
$11.95SEK 110
-12.97%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.6
$4.72SEK 43.42
-23.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.45
$2.07SEK 19.06
-28.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.80
$1.03SEK 9.44
-11.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$8.34SEK 76.8
-63.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47MX$77.4
$6.79SEK 62.4
-34.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kiruna
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.83
$1.87SEK 17.24
-26.20%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.93
$3.50SEK 32.18
-47.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.82
$5.13SEK 47.17
-68.62%
Eggs
$2.57MX$44.52
$4.83SEK 44.43
-46.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$12.75SEK 117
-33.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$14.04SEK 129
-39.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.99MX$190
$27.56SEK 254
-60.12%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.25
$2.59SEK 23.79
5.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.92
$2.81SEK 25.89
-46.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.93
$2.54SEK 23.35
-22.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.70
$4.39SEK 40.40
-51.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.30
$2.15SEK 19.74
-13.49%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.67
$1.67SEK 15.35
29.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.59
$3.42SEK 31.51
-68.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05MX$18.18
$1.45SEK 13.32
-27.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.6
$7.38SEK 67.9
-43.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.28MX$178
$10.96SEK 101
-6.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.87
$1.81SEK 16.66
-7.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49MX$43.12
$1.80SEK 16.60
38.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kiruna
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$3.32SEK 30.52
-83.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.27MX$455
$72.6SEK 668
-63.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10MX$53.8
$9.41SEK 86.6
-67.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.66
$1.59SEK 14.64
54.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.1
$72.9SEK 671
-95.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.83
$1.95SEK 17.96
-35.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$522.8K
$32.6KSEK 299.5K
-7.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.3K
$35.5KSEK 326.3K
-33.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kiruna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0MX$1,456
$173SEK 1,593
-51.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21MX$385
$32.32SEK 297
-31.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65MX$514
$28.23SEK 260
5.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kiruna
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.6MX$912
$47.19SEK 434
11.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.34MX$318
$25.12SEK 231
-26.99%
Cinema Ticket
$4.95MX$85.7
$13.75SEK 127
-64.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kiruna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,438
$163SEK 1,503
21.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,322MX$92.2K
$4,172SEK 38.4K
27.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kiruna
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.95MX$623
$128SEK 1,174
-71.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06MX$694
$33.89SEK 312
18.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,365
$128SEK 1,182
-38.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,499
$172SEK 1,582
-49.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kiruna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$977MX$16.9K
$823SEK 7,570
18.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$471MX$8,158
$638SEK 5,874
-26.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595MX$27.6K
$1,441SEK 13.3K
10.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,215MX$21.1K
$1,175SEK 10.8K
3.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,032MX$69.9K
$4,150SEK 38.2K
-2.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,579MX$114.0K
$3,052SEK 28.1K
115.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kiruna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$714MX$12.4K
$3,601SEK 33.1K
-80.17%
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: April 19, 2026
Last update for Kiruna: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $823 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 404% 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 in Playa del Carmen versus $95 in Kiruna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $422 – 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 Kiruna compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, $1,965 in Kiruna – roughly 56% 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 $1,891 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,947 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 68% 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 $95.0 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 $1,261, than in Kiruna at $1,965. 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 $1,261 in Playa del Carmen to $1,965 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