🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,949 in Lund.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,033 in Lund.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,117 in Lund.
🙂Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 33% less than in Lund, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 3% below, Lund is 45% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Lund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$12.42SEK 116
-5.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$720
$85.7SEK 799
-51.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$11.98SEK 112
-11.19%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$60.9
$5.01SEK 46.78
-29.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.12
$2.83SEK 26.39
-46.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.84
$2.07SEK 19.33
-53.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.0
$8.27SEK 77.2
-64.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.0
$7.53SEK 70.3
-40.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Lund
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.93
$1.62SEK 15.11
-14.81%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.72
$2.23SEK 20.80
-15.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.32
$2.92SEK 27.24
-43.84%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.34
$4.42SEK 41.20
-43.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$12.89SEK 120
-35.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$11.41SEK 106
-26.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$186
$17.35SEK 162
-38.16%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.04
$3.20SEK 29.89
-18.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.20
$2.89SEK 26.99
-49.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.87
$2.90SEK 27.05
-34.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.91
$4.42SEK 41.23
-52.94%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.71
$1.67SEK 15.61
6.59%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.80
$1.63SEK 15.23
34.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$17.99
$2.63SEK 24.52
-60.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.62
$1.29SEK 12.01
-16.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.6
$8.10SEK 75.6
-49.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$178
$11.86SEK 111
-12.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.61
$2.04SEK 18.99
-16.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.54
$2.15SEK 20.04
20.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Lund
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.81
$3.42SEK 31.92
-85.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$458
$67.2SEK 627
-60.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.4
$5.40SEK 50.4
-39.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.09
$1.90SEK 17.74
31.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.2
$62.6SEK 584
-94.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.61
$1.98SEK 18.44
-33.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$523.7K
$32.8KSEK 306.3K
-7.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$405.3K
$34.3KSEK 319.9K
-31.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Lund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,433
$123SEK 1,148
-32.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$384
$28.49SEK 266
-22.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$507
$41.60SEK 388
-29.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Lund
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$893
$39.20SEK 366
31.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
$24.29SEK 227
-24.58%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.6
$17.86SEK 167
-71.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Lund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,473
$176SEK 1,638
14.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.1K
$4,218SEK 39.4K
23.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Lund
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$639
$79.1SEK 738
-53.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$688
$60.3SEK 563
-34.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,357
$104SEK 971
-24.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,506
$127SEK 1,187
-31.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Lund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.8K
$970SEK 9,054
0.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,090
$757SEK 7,060
-38.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$1,644SEK 15.3K
-0.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.1K
$1,314SEK 12.3K
-7.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.3K
$6,660SEK 62.1K
-40.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.4K
$3,858SEK 36.0K
68.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Lund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
$3,140SEK 29.3K
-78.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
4.8
137.92%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Last update for Lund: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $970 in Lund. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lund pays 373% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $86.0 in Lund for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $355 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
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 Lund: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Lund?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 50% lower than in Lund. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or Lund?
On paper, Lund earns 373% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen vs Lund?
Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $970 in Lund. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Lund?
All in, you'll spend $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,949 in Lund – a 50% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Playa del Carmen vs Lund?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 154% less than in Lund. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or Lund?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,949 in Lund, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Lund. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Lund?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,297 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Lund?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Lund are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 50% less than in Lund. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared