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

Similar cities