๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,262 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,797 in Linkoping.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,158 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,809 in Linkoping.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,054 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,821 in Linkoping.
๐Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 30% less than in Linkoping, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Linkoping is 33% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Linkoping
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.61MX$201
$13.09SEKย 120
-11.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$742
$69.5SEKย 639
-38.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.60MX$184
$10.48SEKย 96.3
1.15%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.3
$4.50SEKย 41.36
-20.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.21
$2.68SEKย 24.62
-45.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90MX$15.58
$2.43SEKย 22.33
-62.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$7.60SEKย 69.8
-60.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56MX$79.2
$7.31SEKย 67.2
-37.62%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Linkoping
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.45MX$25.20
$1.86SEKย 17.13
-22.04%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83MX$31.72
$3.18SEKย 29.19
-42.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.92
$3.95SEKย 36.34
-59.24%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.05
$4.07SEKย 37.39
-37.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.54MX$148
$13.95SEKย 128
-38.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.47MX$147
$11.84SEKย 109
-28.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$189
$15.84SEKย 146
-31.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.37
$3.50SEKย 32.17
-22.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.91
$2.62SEKย 24.08
-43.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94MX$33.73
$1.56SEKย 14.36
24.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.57
$5.60SEKย 51.4
-61.43%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.05
$1.52SEKย 13.94
21.71%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$38.00
$2.07SEKย 19.00
5.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.62
$2.74SEKย 25.14
-60.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.81
$1.73SEKย 15.88
-37.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06MX$70.5
$7.52SEKย 69.1
-46.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.46MX$182
$12.86SEKย 118
-18.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65MX$28.71
$1.77SEKย 16.25
-6.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55MX$44.23
$1.94SEKย 17.87
31.44%
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Linkoping
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56MX$9.65
$3.58SEKย 32.92
-84.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.20MX$455
$79.6SEKย 731
-67.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$54.5
$14.73SEKย 135
-78.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.37MX$41.17
$1.66SEKย 15.23
42.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.2
$21.01SEKย 193
-84.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.81
$1.98SEKย 18.16
-33.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5KMX$530.2K
$32.5KSEKย 298.5K
-5.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$413.6K
$34.6KSEKย 317.7K
-31.08%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Linkoping
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.1MX$1,443
$88.9SEKย 817
-6.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.15MX$385
$28.47SEKย 262
-22.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.37MX$510
$36.72SEKย 337
-20.02%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Linkoping
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.2MX$889
$43.14SEKย 396
18.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69MX$324
$52.6SEKย 483
-64.43%
Cinema Ticket
$4.89MX$84.9
$15.85SEKย 146
-69.15%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Linkoping
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$199MX$3,449
$147SEKย 1,351
35.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,207MX$90.4K
$724SEKย 6,653
619.32%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Linkoping
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93MX$624
$104SEKย 952
-65.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.39MX$684
$42.87SEKย 394
-8.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.3MX$1,394
$118SEKย 1,087
-32.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6MX$1,520
$157SEKย 1,440
-44.11%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Linkoping
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.7K
$815SEKย 7,487
18.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482MX$8,370
$628SEKย 5,771
-23.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,645MX$28.6K
$1,289SEKย 11.8K
27.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,192MX$20.7K
$1,111SEKย 10.2K
7.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,957MX$68.7K
$4,744SEKย 43.6K
-16.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,513MX$113.1K
$2,962SEKย 27.2K
119.87%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Linkoping
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$726MX$12.6K
$2,890SEKย 26.6K
-74.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
4.53
152.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026
Last update for Linkoping: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $815 in Linkoping. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐLinkoping pays 298% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $43 in Playa del Carmen vs $70 in Linkoping for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $253 vs $377 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
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 Linkoping: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Linkoping cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 42% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Linkoping?
On paper, Linkoping earns 298% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Linkoping?
Rent for a central apartment: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $815 in Linkoping. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 204% less than in Linkoping. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $199 in Playa del Carmen versus $147 in Linkoping. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Linkoping?
At $1,262 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,797 in Linkoping, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Linkoping. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Linkoping more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Linkoping, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Linkoping?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Linkoping are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 42% less than in Linkoping. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared