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: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,761 in Ljungby.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,775 in Ljungby.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,789 in Ljungby.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 26% less than in Ljungby, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 3% below, Ljungby is 31% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ljungby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$13.25 SEK 124
-11.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$721
$91.0 SEK 855
-54.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
$10.60 SEK 99.6
0.38%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$61.0
$4.15 SEK 39.00
-15.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.17
$2.97 SEK 27.94
-49.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.87
$2.53 SEK 23.77
-61.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.1
$6.31 SEK 59.3
-53.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.2
$8.10 SEK 76.1
-45.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ljungby
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.97
$1.73 SEK 16.29
-20.23%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.78
$2.95 SEK 27.74
-35.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.37
$3.37 SEK 31.70
-51.34%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.42
$4.44 SEK 41.74
-43.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$145
$8.27 SEK 77.7
0.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$145
$9.62 SEK 90.3
-13.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$186
$13.14 SEK 123
-18.34%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.12
$3.20 SEK 30.03
-18.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.25
$2.69 SEK 25.25
-45.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.94
$2.89 SEK 27.17
-34.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.98
$3.78 SEK 35.54
-44.97%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.77
$1.76 SEK 16.50
1.14%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.87
$1.59 SEK 14.97
37.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$18.02
$2.24 SEK 21.04
-53.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.66
$1.60 SEK 15.05
-32.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.7
$7.80 SEK 73.2
-47.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$179
$6.51 SEK 61.2
58.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.67
$2.26 SEK 21.27
-24.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.63
$2.51 SEK 23.62
2.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ljungby
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.83
$3.30 SEK 31.00
-84.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$459
$74.3 SEK 698
-64.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.5
$10.20 SEK 95.8
-68.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.17
$1.60 SEK 15.04
55.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.3
$62.3 SEK 585
-94.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.65
$1.96 SEK 18.41
-33.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$524.7K
$32.2K SEK 302.1K
-5.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$406.0K
$35.1K SEK 329.4K
-33.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ljungby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,436
$140 SEK 1,319
-40.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$385
$24.88 SEK 234
-10.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$508
$39.00 SEK 366
-24.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ljungby
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$895
$41.28 SEK 388
25.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
$25.42 SEK 239
-27.93%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.8
$17.58 SEK 165
-71.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ljungby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,480
$178 SEK 1,670
12.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.3K
$4,192 SEK 39.4K
24.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ljungby
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$640
$88.7 SEK 833
-58.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$689
$40.16 SEK 377
-0.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,360
$97.2 SEK 913
-19.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,509
$157 SEK 1,474
-44.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ljungby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.9K
$856 SEK 8,037
13.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,105
$645 SEK 6,055
-27.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
$1,417 SEK 13.3K
15.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.2K
$1,081 SEK 10.2K
12.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.4K
$4,258 SEK 40.0K
-7.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.6K
$2,975 SEK 27.9K
118.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ljungby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
$2,509 SEK 23.6K
-73.54%
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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Ljungby: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $856 in Ljungby. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ljungby pays 278% 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 $91.0 in Ljungby for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $319 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 Ljungby?
Playa del Carmen and Ljungby differ by about 36% in total monthly costs ($1,297 vs $1,761 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, Ljungby earns 278% less. 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 Ljungby?
Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $856 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 $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,761 in Ljungby – a 36% 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 Ljungby?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 181% 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 $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,761 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 36% less than in Ljungby. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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