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: $1,265 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,608 in Ljungby.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,314 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,559 in Ljungby.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,362 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,509 in Ljungby.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 21% less than in Ljungby, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Ljungby is 19% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ljungby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.48 MX$204
$13.01 SEK 129
-11.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.90 MX$832
$91.2 SEK 905
-48.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.90 MX$211
$13.41 SEK 133
-11.26%
Cappuccino
$4.02 MX$71.4
$4.05 SEK 40.21
-0.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 MX$24.27
$2.92 SEK 28.99
-53.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MX$14.47
$2.26 SEK 22.40
-63.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.30 MX$58.6
$6.26 SEK 62.1
-47.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.71 MX$119
$7.58 SEK 75.3
-11.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ljungby
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 MX$29.13
$1.73 SEK 17.17
-5.20%
White Bread (500g)
$2.15 MX$38.13
$2.80 SEK 27.82
-23.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 MX$31.44
$3.09 SEK 30.67
-42.72%
Eggs
$2.75 MX$48.82
$3.99 SEK 39.63
-31.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.15 MX$162
$9.13 SEK 90.7
0.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.23 MX$164
$9.80 SEK 97.3
-5.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.41 MX$220
$13.83 SEK 137
-10.27%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 MX$51.5
$2.86 SEK 28.43
1.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$26.59
$2.62 SEK 26.00
-42.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.16 MX$38.35
$3.04 SEK 30.17
-28.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 MX$39.84
$4.47 SEK 44.41
-49.66%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$35.88
$1.77 SEK 17.55
14.12%
Onion (1kg)
$2.02 MX$35.86
$1.49 SEK 14.84
35.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 MX$21.19
$2.06 SEK 20.41
-42.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 MX$20.14
$1.27 SEK 12.61
-11.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.43 MX$78.6
$7.98 SEK 79.3
-44.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.63 MX$189
$6.02 SEK 59.8
76.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$29.76
$2.08 SEK 20.70
-19.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 MX$51.5
$1.86 SEK 18.49
55.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ljungby
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MX$10.71
$3.35 SEK 33.24
-82.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.09 MX$516
$79.0 SEK 784
-63.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.32 MX$94.4
$6.23 SEK 61.8
-14.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.57 MX$63.3
$1.74 SEK 17.26
105.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.88 MX$104
$59.8 SEK 594
-90.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.51 MX$26.77
$1.70 SEK 16.90
-11.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3K MX$396.6K
$33.2K SEK 330.0K
-32.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K MX$455.3K
$34.4K SEK 342.1K
-25.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ljungby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.6 MX$1,607
$50.7 SEK 503
78.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.44 MX$451
$19.70 SEK 196
29.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.61 MX$543
$30.28 SEK 301
1.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ljungby
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$66.9 MX$1,188
$38.59 SEK 383
73.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.47 MX$523
$25.73 SEK 256
14.54%
Cinema Ticket
$4.91 MX$87.1
$19.36 SEK 192
-74.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ljungby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$216 MX$3,826
$222 SEK 2,209
-3.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,125 MX$73.2K
$4,461 SEK 44.3K
-7.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ljungby
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.02 MX$817
$81.7 SEK 811
-43.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.24 MX$785
$34.35 SEK 341
28.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.4 MX$1,391
$94.1 SEK 935
-16.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.0 MX$1,633
$104 SEK 1,030
-11.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ljungby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,061 MX$18.8K
$815 SEK 8,096
30.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$394 MX$6,994
$617 SEK 6,126
-36.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,120 MX$37.6K
$1,402 SEK 13.9K
51.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,259 MX$22.3K
$1,030 SEK 10.2K
22.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,072 MX$72.3K
$4,114 SEK 40.8K
-1.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,606 MX$117.2K
$2,889 SEK 28.7K
128.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ljungby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$752 MX$13.3K
$2,380 SEK 23.6K
-68.41%
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: September 21, 2026

Last update for Ljungby: September 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,061 in Playa del Carmen and $815 in Ljungby. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ljungby pays 217% 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: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $91.0 in Ljungby for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $314 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 27% in total monthly costs ($1,265 vs $1,608 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 217% 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: $1,061 in Playa del Carmen versus $815 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 $1,265 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,608 in Ljungby – a 27% 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 171% 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 $1,265 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,608 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 27% less than in Ljungby. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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