Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Ljungby

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,203 a month against $1,605 in Ljungby, rent and utilities included – about $4,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Ljungby, Sweden
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,203
/mo nomad
Ljungby
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,605
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Ljungby

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Ljungby actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,203 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,605 in Ljungby.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,203
  • Ljungby $1,605

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,084 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,553 in Ljungby.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,084
  • Ljungby $2,553

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,965 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,501 in Ljungby.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,965
  • Ljungby $3,501

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 25% less than in Ljungby, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 10% below, Ljungby is 20% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ljungby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.72 MX$198
$12.67 SEK 124
-15.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.71 MX$790
$89.4 SEK 875
-52.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.86 MX$219
$12.31 SEK 120
-3.66%
Cappuccino
$3.80 MX$70.3
$4.07 SEK 39.80
-6.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 MX$23.80
$2.97 SEK 29.11
-56.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MX$15.23
$2.38 SEK 23.30
-65.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.07 MX$56.8
$6.19 SEK 60.6
-50.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.99 MX$92.2
$7.73 SEK 75.7
-35.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ljungby
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 MX$27.53
$1.64 SEK 16.10
-9.15%
White Bread (500g)
$2.26 MX$41.85
$2.87 SEK 28.07
-21.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 MX$25.83
$3.27 SEK 32.00
-57.19%
Eggs
$2.47 MX$45.72
$3.92 SEK 38.34
-36.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.25 MX$134
$9.26 SEK 90.7
-21.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.09 MX$150
$9.48 SEK 92.8
-14.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.87 MX$238
$14.10 SEK 138
-8.72%
Apples (1kg)
$2.89 MX$53.5
$2.79 SEK 27.30
3.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MX$26.62
$2.57 SEK 25.15
-43.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.61 MX$48.27
$2.95 SEK 28.88
-11.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 MX$39.41
$4.24 SEK 41.47
-49.76%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 MX$36.80
$1.77 SEK 17.34
12.43%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.03
$1.56 SEK 15.31
21.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$21.35
$2.07 SEK 20.24
-44.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 MX$22.84
$1.27 SEK 12.43
-3.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45 MX$82.3
$8.07 SEK 79.0
-44.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.61 MX$178
$6.09 SEK 59.6
57.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 MX$29.60
$2.16 SEK 21.18
-25.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 MX$49.63
$1.83 SEK 17.87
46.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ljungby
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 MX$10.46
$2.99 SEK 29.24
-80.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.54 MX$491
$82.8 SEK 810
-67.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.79 MX$88.6
$6.37 SEK 62.3
-24.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.29 MX$60.9
$1.76 SEK 17.24
86.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$99.7
$60.3 SEK 590
-91.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 MX$27.08
$1.78 SEK 17.41
-17.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K MX$390.0K
$33.5K SEK 327.5K
-36.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$433.5K
$34.2K SEK 335.0K
-31.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ljungby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.9 MX$1,552
$50.7 SEK 496
65.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.11 MX$428
$20.02 SEK 196
15.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32 MX$524
$30.45 SEK 298
-7.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ljungby
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.7 MX$975
$38.45 SEK 376
37.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.94 MX$572
$22.51 SEK 220
37.45%
Cinema Ticket
$4.96 MX$91.8
$17.44 SEK 171
-71.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ljungby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$203 MX$3,761
$221 SEK 2,167
-8.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,245 MX$97.0K
$4,786 SEK 46.8K
9.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ljungby
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.12 MX$816
$80.8 SEK 791
-45.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.37 MX$765
$34.14 SEK 334
21.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.8 MX$1,366
$90.9 SEK 890
-18.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0 MX$1,665
$102 SEK 995
-11.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ljungby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$988 MX$18.3K
$816 SEK 7,989
21.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$382 MX$7,074
$615 SEK 6,024
-37.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,667 MX$30.8K
$1,390 SEK 13.6K
19.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,085 MX$20.1K
$1,003 SEK 9,817
8.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,942 MX$72.9K
$3,631 SEK 35.5K
8.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,102 MX$112.9K
$3,295 SEK 32.3K
85.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ljungby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$907 MX$16.8K
$2,362 SEK 23.1K
-61.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
3.06
274.18%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: November 8, 2026

Last update for Ljungby: November 9, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$382
Ljungby
$615 60.9% $233
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$260
Ljungby
$312 20.2% $53
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$201
Ljungby
$255 27% $54
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$135
Ljungby
$101 25.3% $34
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Ljungby
$138 23.3% $26
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$63
Ljungby
$73 17.1% $11
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Ljungby
$110 120% $60

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $988 in Playa del Carmen and $816 in Ljungby. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ljungby pays about 2.6 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $43 in Playa del Carmen vs $89 in Ljungby for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $260 vs $312 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇸🇪 Ljungby
🕒 Local time
13:36 1:36 PM
19:36 7:36 PM
6 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
28,404
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

SEK, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 10, 2026: 1 USD = 18.5 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.76 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of November 10, 2026: 1 USD = 9.79 SEK (1 SEK = 0.102 USD). 1 EUR = 10.99 SEK (100 SEK = 9.1 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Ljungby 8,740 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Ljungby

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Ljungby: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and in Ljungby?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,203 in Playa del Carmen and $1,605 in Ljungby, so Playa del Carmen is about 25% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 62% lower in Playa del Carmen. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Ljungby?
Rent for a central apartment: $988 in Playa del Carmen versus $816 in Ljungby. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Ljungby?
All in, you’ll spend $1,203 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,605 in Ljungby – Playa del Carmen is about 25% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How do commuting costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Ljungby?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 68% less than in Ljungby. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,203 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,605 in Ljungby, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Ljungby. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Ljungby?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Ljungby?
It comes down to priorities – Playa del Carmen wins on affordability, Ljungby on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

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