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

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