🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,810 in Mora.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,279 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,931 in Mora.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,292 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,052 in Mora.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 30% less than in Mora, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 7% below, Mora is 32% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Mora
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$10.62SEK 105
9.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$812
$105SEK 1,038
-55.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$11.79SEK 116
0.76%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.6
$5.14SEK 50.6
-22.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.60
$1.13SEK 11.15
26.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.22
$3.32SEK 32.73
-75.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$55.0
$8.34SEK 82.2
-61.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$9.30SEK 91.7
-26.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Mora
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.89
$1.80SEK 17.75
-6.67%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.88
$3.68SEK 36.24
-40.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.45
$2.84SEK 28.00
-39.79%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.26
$5.24SEK 51.6
-47.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
$13.11SEK 129
-26.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$11.62SEK 115
-22.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
$22.12SEK 218
-42.09%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.81
$3.66SEK 36.07
-21.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.81
$2.53SEK 24.93
-40.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.03
$3.24SEK 31.89
-33.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.96
$4.69SEK 46.18
-51.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.15
$1.48SEK 14.55
33.78%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.30
$1.51SEK 14.87
31.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.28
$2.42SEK 23.80
-49.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.63
$0.75SEK 7.37
60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.5
$6.21SEK 61.2
-26.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
$12.42SEK 122
-16.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.91
$2.07SEK 20.39
-21.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.67
$2.58SEK 25.38
11.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Mora
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.35
$3.43SEK 33.77
-82.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$497
$78.9SEK 777
-63.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.9
$6.10SEK 60.1
-11.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.3
$1.60SEK 15.76
133.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.5
$57.8SEK 569
-90.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.48
$1.88SEK 18.57
-18.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.8K
$34.0KSEK 335.3K
-33.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$449.3K
$34.8KSEK 342.9K
-25.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Mora
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,576
$109SEK 1,075
-16.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$435
$22.75SEK 224
10.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$539
$41.27SEK 407
-24.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Mora
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,159
$39.04SEK 385
72.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$502
$26.31SEK 259
10.64%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.8
$15.71SEK 155
-69.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Mora
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,856
$169SEK 1,665
32.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.9K
$5,253SEK 51.8K
-19.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Mora
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$812
$95.5SEK 941
-50.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$764
$55.9SEK 551
-20.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,381
$57.7SEK 569
38.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,598
$197SEK 1,944
-53.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Mora
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
$834SEK 8,220
27.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,728
$603SEK 5,944
-35.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.1K
$1,383SEK 13.6K
55.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
$1,051SEK 10.4K
21.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$69.0K
$4,161SEK 41.0K
-3.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$112.1K
$2,872SEK 28.3K
126.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Mora
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.1K
$2,533SEK 25.0K
-70.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
3.31
245.92%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Last update for Mora: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen and $834 in Mora. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mora pays 234% 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: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $105 in Mora for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $276 vs $387 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 Mora: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and in Mora?
Playa del Carmen and Mora differ by about 43% in total monthly costs ($1,266 vs $1,810 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 234% lower in Mora. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Mora?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $834 in Mora. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 40% higher in Mora. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $105 in Mora. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,810 in Mora, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Mora. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Mora?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Playa del Carmen or Mora safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Mora are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Playa del Carmen or Mora?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Mora. 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