🙂A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,578 in Ludvika, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,652 in Ludvika, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,725 in Ludvika, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 18% cheaper than Ludvika, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 4% 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
$11.94MX$209
$13.13SEK 122
-9.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$67.3SEK 626
-36.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$10.49SEK 97.5
0.95%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$4.53SEK 42.11
-20.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$2.73SEK 25.37
-46.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$2.48SEK 23.07
-62.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$7.36SEK 68.4
-58.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$7.57SEK 70.4
-41.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ludvika
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.83SEK 17.04
-21.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$2.69SEK 24.99
-30.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$4.08SEK 37.92
-60.05%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$3.89SEK 36.17
-32.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$14.16SEK 132
-42.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$14.73SEK 137
-43.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$15.83SEK 147
-29.88%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$3.48SEK 32.39
-23.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$2.58SEK 23.98
-41.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$3.85SEK 35.79
-48.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$4.45SEK 41.37
-53.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$1.51SEK 14.08
18.54%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$2.10SEK 19.51
3.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$2.67SEK 24.82
-59.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$1.60SEK 14.91
-35.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$7.26SEK 67.5
-45.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$10.65SEK 99.0
-4.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$1.71SEK 15.92
1.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$1.95SEK 18.10
28.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ludvika
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$3.10SEK 28.86
-83.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
$54.3SEK 505
-50.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$14.39SEK 134
-78.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$1.65SEK 15.37
45.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$21.06SEK 196
-85.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$1.90SEK 17.66
-33.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$32.3KSEK 300.0K
-4.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$34.4KSEK 319.5K
-32.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ludvika
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$88.9SEK 826
-7.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$20.76SEK 193
8.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$36.42SEK 339
-18.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ludvika
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$31.76SEK 295
63.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
$53.5SEK 497
-65.09%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$15.81SEK 147
-68.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ludvika
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$146SEK 1,360
35.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$725SEK 6,744
627.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ludvika
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$105SEK 979
-65.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$43.89SEK 408
-8.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$116SEK 1,079
-31.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$156SEK 1,448
-42.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ludvika
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$472SEK 4,390
104.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$448SEK 4,164
3.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$987SEK 9,182
61.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$990SEK 9,211
22.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ludvika
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$4,113SEK 38.3K
-82.49%
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: April 25, 2026
Last update for Ludvika: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $472 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 471% 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $67.0 in Ludvika. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $384 – 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 $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,367 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 $198 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 53% 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 $1,287, than in Ludvika at $1,578. 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 $1,287 versus $1,578 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