Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Mölndal Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Mölndal

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,679 in Mölndal.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,125 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,593 in Mölndal.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,990 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,507 in Mölndal.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 25% less than in Mölndal, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 5% below, Mölndal is 26% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Mölndal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72 MX$204
$12.62 SEK 122
-7.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89 MX$731
$73.0 SEK 703
-42.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 MX$183
$10.46 SEK 101
0.48%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.5
$5.00 SEK 48.25
-28.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.31
$3.05 SEK 29.42
-50.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 MX$15.96
$1.04 SEK 9.98
-11.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.96 MX$51.6
$7.23 SEK 69.7
-59.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41 MX$76.9
$6.22 SEK 60.0
-29.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Mölndal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 MX$24.35
$1.25 SEK 12.01
12.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.87
$1.56 SEK 15.08
20.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 MX$27.19
$3.19 SEK 30.72
-51.10%
Eggs
$2.61 MX$45.50
$3.77 SEK 36.35
-30.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.32 MX$145
$7.23 SEK 69.7
15.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.35 MX$146
$9.62 SEK 92.8
-13.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 MX$189
$15.98 SEK 154
-32.04%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 MX$47.31
$3.14 SEK 30.24
-13.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$26.25
$2.60 SEK 25.10
-41.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.67
$2.88 SEK 27.73
-35.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$38.19
$4.24 SEK 40.92
-48.35%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$32.40
$1.64 SEK 15.85
13.41%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 MX$38.90
$1.89 SEK 18.19
17.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.63
$1.97 SEK 18.97
-45.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.94
$1.23 SEK 11.85
-11.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MX$73.0
$7.54 SEK 72.7
-44.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.43 MX$182
$10.19 SEK 98.2
2.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 MX$28.91
$2.17 SEK 20.94
-23.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$45.56
$2.57 SEK 24.79
1.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Mölndal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.45
$3.77 SEK 36.32
-85.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.16 MX$456
$88.6 SEK 854
-70.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 MX$53.7
$6.68 SEK 64.4
-53.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$41.94
$1.64 SEK 15.85
46.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$54.5
$61.2 SEK 590
-94.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.87
$1.88 SEK 18.17
-30.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K MX$519.9K
$32.5K SEK 313.0K
-8.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$406.8K
$35.0K SEK 337.9K
-33.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Mölndal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 MX$1,418
$76.4 SEK 737
6.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56 MX$393
$10.67 SEK 103
111.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05 MX$524
$21.12 SEK 204
42.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Mölndal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.9 MX$923
$36.31 SEK 350
45.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 MX$321
$29.45 SEK 284
-37.56%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92 MX$85.8
$17.66 SEK 170
-72.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Mölndal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,502
$179 SEK 1,721
12.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,175 MX$90.2K
$4,077 SEK 39.3K
26.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Mölndal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92 MX$627
$89.2 SEK 860
-59.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13 MX$700
$39.99 SEK 386
0.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.7 MX$1,390
$73.0 SEK 703
9.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5 MX$1,508
$156 SEK 1,504
-44.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Mölndal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$978 MX$17.1K
$851 SEK 8,201
14.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 MX$8,206
$649 SEK 6,256
-27.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,651 MX$28.8K
$1,372 SEK 13.2K
20.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,203 MX$21.0K
$1,090 SEK 10.5K
10.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,953 MX$69.0K
$4,122 SEK 39.7K
-4.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,607 MX$115.2K
$2,901 SEK 28.0K
127.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Mölndal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$677 MX$11.8K
-
-
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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Mölndal: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $978 in Playa del Carmen and $851 in Mölndal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $73.0 in Mölndal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $305 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 33% 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 and in Mölndal?
You'd need roughly $1,890 in Playa del Carmen and $2,518 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 compared to Mölndal?
Rent for a central apartment: $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $851 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 $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,679 in Mölndal – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Playa del Carmen compared to Mölndal?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 239% 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 in Mölndal?
At $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,679 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 $1,260 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 33% less than in Mölndal. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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