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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,609 in Ludvika, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,693 in Ludvika, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,776 in Ludvika, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 21% cheaper than Ludvika, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 7% below the global median, while Ludvika is 18% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ludvika
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60 MX$200
$14.25 SEK 140
-18.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11 MX$812
$66.0 SEK 651
-28.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.88 MX$205
$10.43 SEK 103
13.90%
Cappuccino
$3.98 MX$68.6
$4.48 SEK 44.19
-11.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 MX$24.60
$2.73 SEK 26.88
-47.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MX$14.22
$2.21 SEK 21.81
-62.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 MX$55.0
$7.15 SEK 70.5
-55.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79 MX$117
$7.20 SEK 70.9
-5.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ludvika
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 MX$28.89
$1.80 SEK 17.74
-6.67%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$37.88
$2.65 SEK 26.11
-16.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 MX$29.45
$3.88 SEK 38.21
-55.93%
Eggs
$2.74 MX$47.26
$5.11 SEK 50.4
-46.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.58 MX$165
$13.63 SEK 134
-29.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.01 MX$155
$13.65 SEK 135
-33.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.81 MX$221
$28.45 SEK 280
-54.97%
Apples (1kg)
$2.89 MX$49.81
$3.22 SEK 31.77
-10.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$25.81
$3.35 SEK 32.98
-55.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 MX$37.03
$3.67 SEK 36.19
-41.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.96
$4.22 SEK 41.54
-46.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 MX$34.15
$1.51 SEK 14.87
31.13%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.30
$1.74 SEK 17.18
14.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.23 MX$21.28
$2.30 SEK 22.62
-46.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$20.63
$1.56 SEK 15.42
-23.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55 MX$78.5
$7.42 SEK 73.1
-38.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.37 MX$179
$10.27 SEK 101
0.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.91
$1.96 SEK 19.35
-17.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$49.67
$2.34 SEK 23.02
23.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ludvika
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MX$10.35
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.80 MX$497
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$92.9
$13.07 SEK 129
-58.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.73 MX$64.3
$2.08 SEK 20.53
79.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.77 MX$99.5
$82.8 SEK 816
-93.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$26.48
$1.80 SEK 17.75
-14.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K MX$388.8K
$34.0K SEK 335.4K
-33.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K MX$449.3K
$33.3K SEK 327.8K
-21.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ludvika
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.4 MX$1,576
$103 SEK 1,017
-11.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20 MX$435
$20.30 SEK 200
24.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24 MX$539
$47.77 SEK 471
-34.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ludvika
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 MX$1,159
$30.66 SEK 302
119.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11 MX$502
$51.3 SEK 506
-43.27%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 MX$83.8
$16.61 SEK 164
-70.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ludvika
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$224 MX$3,856
$219 SEK 2,156
2.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,229 MX$72.9K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ludvika
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10 MX$812
$99.4 SEK 980
-52.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29 MX$764
$54.8 SEK 540
-19.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.1 MX$1,381
$98.0 SEK 966
-18.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7 MX$1,598
$216 SEK 2,131
-57.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ludvika
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,063 MX$18.3K
$466 SEK 4,596
127.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$390 MX$6,728
$440 SEK 4,339
-11.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,149 MX$37.1K
$984 SEK 9,695
118.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,272 MX$21.9K
$996 SEK 9,818
27.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,001 MX$69.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,502 MX$112.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ludvika
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$758 MX$13.1K
$3,781 SEK 37.3K
-79.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
3.2
257.81%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Last update for Ludvika: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $466 in Ludvika. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 399% higher in Ludvika, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $66.0 in Ludvika. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $418 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Ludvika: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Ludvika?
Ludvika costs about 27% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen and in Ludvika?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,414 in Ludvika. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Ludvika?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Ludvika?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $1,609 in Ludvika. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Ludvika?
Kindergarten costs $224 per month in Playa del Carmen and $219 in Ludvika. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or in Ludvika?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,266, than in Ludvika at $1,609. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ludvika it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Ludvika?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,266 versus $1,609 in Ludvika. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or to Ludvika?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ludvika makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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