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

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