🙂A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,564 in Ludvika, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,659 in Ludvika, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,753 in Ludvika, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 19% cheaper than Ludvika, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 5% 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
$11.72MX$203
$13.27SEK 126
-11.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$725
$68.0SEK 646
-38.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
$10.73SEK 102
-2.05%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.0
$4.66SEK 44.31
-22.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.10
$2.83SEK 26.84
-46.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.83
$2.38SEK 22.65
-61.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
$7.35SEK 69.9
-59.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.3
$7.57SEK 72.0
-41.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ludvika
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.16
$1.83SEK 17.40
-23.50%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.60
$2.79SEK 26.54
-32.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$26.97
$3.99SEK 37.92
-60.90%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.14
$4.06SEK 38.59
-35.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$13.82SEK 131
-39.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$14.51SEK 138
-42.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
$15.63SEK 148
-30.52%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$46.93
$3.65SEK 34.66
-25.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.04
$2.66SEK 25.23
-43.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.41
$3.94SEK 37.43
-52.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.89
$4.27SEK 40.61
-48.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.14
$1.51SEK 14.33
23.18%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.59
$2.15SEK 20.42
3.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.48
$2.71SEK 25.71
-60.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.79
$1.58SEK 15.04
-31.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.4
$7.36SEK 70.0
-43.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$180
$10.15SEK 96.4
2.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.68
$1.80SEK 17.10
-7.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.19
$1.95SEK 18.56
33.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ludvika
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$3.19SEK 30.27
-83.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
$53.7SEK 510
-51.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
$14.32SEK 136
-78.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.61
$1.66SEK 15.76
44.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.1
$20.69SEK 197
-84.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.69
$1.80SEK 17.07
-27.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$515.7K
$32.6KSEK 309.3K
-8.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$403.5K
$33.8KSEK 320.9K
-30.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ludvika
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,406
$89.9SEK 854
-9.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$390
$20.86SEK 198
8.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$520
$36.46SEK 346
-17.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ludvika
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$915
$31.63SEK 300
67.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$318
$53.5SEK 508
-65.60%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.1
$15.66SEK 149
-68.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ludvika
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,474
$145SEK 1,379
38.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.5K
$734SEK 6,969
605.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ludvika
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
$103SEK 982
-65.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$694
$43.56SEK 414
-7.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,379
$115SEK 1,090
-30.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,496
$153SEK 1,449
-43.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ludvika
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
$483SEK 4,584
102.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,140
$448SEK 4,254
5.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
$1,008SEK 9,580
63.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.8K
$989SEK 9,397
21.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ludvika
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
$3,839SEK 36.5K
-82.37%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Ludvika: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $483 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 467% 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: $252 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 24% 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 $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,347 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 in Ludvika?
Kindergarten costs $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $145 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 in Ludvika?
Groceries cost about 52% 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 in Ludvika?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,260, than in Ludvika at $1,564. 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 $1,260 versus $1,564 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared