🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,653 in Mölndal.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,130 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,581 in Mölndal.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,999 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,508 in Mölndal.
🙂Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 24% less than in Mölndal, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Mölndal is 23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Mölndal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.67MX$202
$12.88SEK 118
-9.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.88MX$726
$74.0SEK 681
-43.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.40MX$180
$10.47SEK 96.3
-0.67%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.6
$4.78SEK 44.01
-24.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.45
$2.96SEK 27.24
-50.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.80
$1.07SEK 9.81
-14.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$7.17SEK 66.0
-57.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47MX$77.4
$6.43SEK 59.2
-30.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Mölndal
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.83
$1.23SEK 11.33
12.20%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.93
$1.62SEK 14.93
13.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.82
$3.33SEK 30.60
-51.65%
Eggs
$2.57MX$44.52
$3.69SEK 33.98
-30.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$7.33SEK 67.5
15.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$9.66SEK 88.9
-12.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.99MX$190
$16.01SEK 147
-31.36%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.25
$3.10SEK 28.51
-11.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.92
$2.55SEK 23.47
-41.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.93
$2.88SEK 26.51
-31.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.70
$4.38SEK 40.27
-51.60%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.30
$1.73SEK 15.90
7.51%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.67
$1.88SEK 17.31
15.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.59
$1.93SEK 17.72
-44.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05MX$18.18
$1.25SEK 11.50
-16.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.6
$7.47SEK 68.8
-43.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.28MX$178
$11.07SEK 102
-7.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.87
$2.13SEK 19.57
-21.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49MX$43.12
$2.56SEK 23.59
-2.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Mölndal
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$3.71SEK 34.14
-85.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.27MX$455
$86.6SEK 797
-69.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10MX$53.8
$6.53SEK 60.0
-52.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.66
$1.59SEK 14.62
54.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.1
$62.6SEK 576
-94.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.83
$1.89SEK 17.43
-33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$522.8K
$33.2KSEK 305.5K
-9.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.3K
$34.5KSEK 317.1K
-31.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Mölndal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0MX$1,456
$76.0SEK 699
10.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21MX$385
$10.58SEK 97.4
109.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65MX$514
$21.51SEK 198
37.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Mölndal
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.6MX$912
$36.28SEK 334
45.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.34MX$318
$29.58SEK 272
-38.00%
Cinema Ticket
$4.95MX$85.7
$17.90SEK 165
-72.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Mölndal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,438
$178SEK 1,637
11.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,322MX$92.2K
$4,098SEK 37.7K
29.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Mölndal
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.95MX$623
$90.1SEK 829
-60.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06MX$694
$39.59SEK 364
1.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,365
$72.9SEK 671
8.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,499
$152SEK 1,402
-43.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Mölndal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$977MX$16.9K
$832SEK 7,657
17.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$471MX$8,158
$645SEK 5,933
-27.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595MX$27.6K
$1,382SEK 12.7K
15.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,215MX$21.1K
$1,064SEK 9,787
14.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,032MX$69.9K
$4,377SEK 40.3K
-7.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,579MX$114.0K
$3,080SEK 28.3K
113.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Mölndal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$714MX$12.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
4.33
163.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Last update for Mölndal: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $977 in Playa del Carmen and $832 in Mölndal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $42 in Playa del Carmen vs $74 in Mölndal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $309 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 Mölndal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Mölndal?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 31% lower than in Mölndal. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen vs Mölndal?
You'd need roughly $1,891 in Playa del Carmen and $2,480 in Mölndal to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen vs Mölndal?
Rent for a central apartment: $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $832 in Mölndal. 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 Mölndal?
All in, you'll spend $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,653 in Mölndal – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Playa del Carmen vs Mölndal?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 230% less than in Mölndal. 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 Mölndal?
At $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,653 in Mölndal, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Mölndal. 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 Mölndal?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,261 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 Mölndal?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Mölndal 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 31% less than in Mölndal. 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