🙂A single person spends $1,294 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,591 in Ludvika, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,189 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,645 in Ludvika, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,084 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,700 in Ludvika, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 19% cheaper than Ludvika, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 3% below the global median, while Ludvika is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ludvika
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$202
$13.24SEK 124
-11.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$719
$68.4SEK 640
-38.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.41MX$179
$10.47SEK 98.0
-0.57%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.1
$4.56SEK 42.65
-20.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46MX$25.06
$2.69SEK 25.16
-45.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.70
$2.50SEK 23.43
-61.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92MX$50.3
$7.24SEK 67.8
-59.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62MX$79.5
$7.49SEK 70.1
-38.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ludvika
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.59
$1.80SEK 16.83
-20.56%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90MX$32.70
$2.70SEK 25.21
-29.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$26.95
$4.07SEK 38.09
-61.43%
Eggs
$2.64MX$45.34
$3.84SEK 35.94
-31.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.44MX$145
$13.88SEK 130
-39.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.58MX$148
$14.95SEK 140
-42.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.00MX$189
$15.70SEK 147
-29.94%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70MX$46.51
$3.62SEK 33.82
-25.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$25.92
$2.61SEK 24.37
-42.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.91MX$32.93
$3.88SEK 36.33
-50.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.37
$4.41SEK 41.24
-50.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.25
$1.51SEK 14.09
23.84%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.43
$2.05SEK 19.19
8.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.60
$2.56SEK 23.99
-57.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.47
$1.59SEK 14.90
-32.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16MX$71.6
$7.53SEK 70.5
-44.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.29MX$177
$10.55SEK 98.7
-2.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$28.95
$1.79SEK 16.70
-6.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.59
$1.97SEK 18.40
28.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ludvika
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.55MX$9.53
$3.15SEK 29.47
-82.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.29MX$452
$54.0SEK 505
-51.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.20MX$55.0
$14.42SEK 135
-77.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.37
$1.58SEK 14.75
55.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.20MX$55.0
$20.75SEK 194
-84.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$22.72
$1.88SEK 17.62
-29.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$518.8K
$32.9KSEK 307.7K
-8.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$402.5K
$34.6KSEK 323.7K
-32.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ludvika
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.4MX$1,400
$88.9SEK 832
-8.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.41MX$386
$21.47SEK 201
4.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.97MX$516
$36.97SEK 346
-18.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ludvika
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$887
$32.25SEK 302
59.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$316
$52.1SEK 487
-64.68%
Cinema Ticket
$5.16MX$88.9
$15.70SEK 147
-67.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ludvika
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$202MX$3,471
$146SEK 1,361
38.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,311MX$91.4K
$733SEK 6,853
624.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ludvika
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.61MX$613
$104SEK 975
-65.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.37MX$695
$43.50SEK 407
-7.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.6MX$1,353
$117SEK 1,095
-32.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.9MX$1,495
$158SEK 1,482
-45.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ludvika
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$950MX$16.3K
$468SEK 4,378
103.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$478MX$8,227
$457SEK 4,276
4.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621MX$27.9K
$998SEK 9,331
62.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,223MX$21.0K
$1,013SEK 9,478
20.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,009MX$69.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,473MX$111.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ludvika
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673MX$11.6K
$3,961SEK 37.0K
-83.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
4
185.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026
Last update for Ludvika: June 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $950 in Playa del Carmen versus $468 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 489% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $68.0 in Ludvika. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $254 vs $383 – 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 23% 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 vs Ludvika?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,941 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,387 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 do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and Ludvika?
Kindergarten costs $202 per month in Playa del Carmen and $146 in Ludvika. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or Ludvika?
Groceries cost about 51% more in Ludvika, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or Ludvika?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,294, than in Ludvika at $1,591. 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 $1,294 versus $1,591 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 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared