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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,805 in Ljungby.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,137 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,808 in Ljungby.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,017 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,811 in Ljungby.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 30% less than in Ljungby, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Ljungby is 35% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ljungby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$209
$13.29 SEK 129
-9.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78 MX$728
$94.0 SEK 910
-55.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.75 MX$187
$10.38 SEK 101
3.56%
Cappuccino
$3.50 MX$60.9
$4.15 SEK 40.19
-15.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$25.22
$3.07 SEK 29.75
-52.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 MX$15.41
$2.56 SEK 24.81
-65.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.3
$6.50 SEK 63.0
-54.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51 MX$78.6
$7.97 SEK 77.2
-43.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ljungby
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
$1.74 SEK 16.84
-17.82%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 MX$31.99
$2.93 SEK 28.32
-37.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$27.31
$3.22 SEK 31.18
-51.24%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.74
$4.57 SEK 44.28
-45.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.28 MX$144
$8.66 SEK 83.9
-4.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.43 MX$147
$9.32 SEK 90.2
-9.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.68 MX$186
$13.12 SEK 127
-18.60%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 MX$45.43
$3.17 SEK 30.72
-17.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MX$25.04
$2.72 SEK 26.38
-47.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 MX$34.16
$2.90 SEK 28.08
-32.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$36.47
$3.71 SEK 35.87
-43.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 MX$32.24
$1.72 SEK 16.67
7.56%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.74
$1.62 SEK 15.67
33.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 MX$17.96
$2.31 SEK 22.39
-55.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$18.70
$1.59 SEK 15.42
-32.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10 MX$71.4
$8.08 SEK 78.3
-49.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.17 MX$177
$6.30 SEK 61.0
61.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$29.17
$2.26 SEK 21.84
-25.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 MX$43.98
$2.54 SEK 24.59
-0.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ljungby
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.87
$3.29 SEK 31.83
-84.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.04 MX$453
$74.3 SEK 719
-64.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.3
$10.47 SEK 101
-69.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.41 MX$41.88
$1.63 SEK 15.80
47.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.2
$61.4 SEK 594
-94.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 MX$23.00
$1.88 SEK 18.22
-29.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K MX$517.1K
$33.1K SEK 320.4K
-10.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K MX$412.0K
$35.7K SEK 346.0K
-33.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ljungby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,428
$141 SEK 1,363
-41.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95 MX$400
$25.90 SEK 251
-11.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11 MX$524
$38.19 SEK 370
-21.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ljungby
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 MX$905
$40.96 SEK 397
26.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53 MX$323
$25.01 SEK 242
-25.91%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98 MX$86.6
$17.90 SEK 173
-72.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ljungby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,438
$172 SEK 1,669
14.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,336 MX$92.9K
$4,078 SEK 39.5K
30.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ljungby
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60 MX$620
$87.3 SEK 845
-59.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33 MX$702
$39.64 SEK 384
1.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.8 MX$1,371
$97.6 SEK 945
-19.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,549
$151 SEK 1,465
-41.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ljungby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$947 MX$16.5K
$849 SEK 8,223
11.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,254
$660 SEK 6,388
-28.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,644 MX$28.6K
$1,387 SEK 13.4K
18.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,211 MX$21.1K
$1,103 SEK 10.7K
9.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,056 MX$70.6K
$3,864 SEK 37.4K
4.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,470 MX$112.7K
$2,809 SEK 27.2K
130.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ljungby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 MX$11.4K
$2,379 SEK 23.0K
-72.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
4.33
163.74%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Last update for Ljungby: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $947 in Playa del Carmen and $849 in Ljungby. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ljungby pays 264% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $94.0 in Ljungby for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $318 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 Ljungby: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and in Ljungby?
Playa del Carmen and Ljungby differ by about 44% in total monthly costs ($1,256 vs $1,805 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 264% lower in Ljungby. 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: $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $849 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 $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,805 in Ljungby – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Ljungby?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 185% less than in Ljungby. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,805 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.
Is Playa del Carmen or Ljungby safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Ljungby are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Playa del Carmen or Ljungby?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Ljungby. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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