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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,775 in Norrkoping.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,126 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,719 in Norrkoping.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,980 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,663 in Norrkoping.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 28% less than in Norrkoping, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 5% below, Norrkoping is 32% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87 MX$204
$12.46 SEK 117
-4.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90 MX$736
$68.5 SEK 643
-37.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.65 MX$183
$10.63 SEK 99.7
0.19%
Cappuccino
$3.45 MX$59.2
$4.83 SEK 45.32
-28.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 MX$25.81
$2.42 SEK 22.74
-38.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 MX$16.28
$1.80 SEK 16.84
-47.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$51.9
$7.28 SEK 68.3
-58.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 MX$79.1
$7.97 SEK 74.7
-42.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.61
$1.64 SEK 15.43
-15.85%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$31.70
$2.87 SEK 26.93
-35.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.65
$4.67 SEK 43.76
-65.52%
Eggs
$2.59 MX$44.51
$4.39 SEK 41.18
-41.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.26 MX$142
$12.37 SEK 116
-33.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.37 MX$144
$14.14 SEK 133
-40.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.66 MX$183
$16.37 SEK 154
-34.88%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 MX$45.12
$3.12 SEK 29.31
-15.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 MX$25.53
$2.78 SEK 26.07
-46.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.92 MX$32.94
$3.74 SEK 35.10
-48.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$35.81
$4.95 SEK 46.42
-57.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$31.88
$1.48 SEK 13.88
25.68%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.81
$1.80 SEK 16.88
25.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 MX$18.23
$1.93 SEK 18.08
-45.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.67
$1.27 SEK 11.93
-14.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15 MX$71.2
$7.53 SEK 70.6
-44.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.39 MX$178
$10.46 SEK 98.1
-0.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$29.59
$1.85 SEK 17.37
-7.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$44.85
$2.55 SEK 23.97
2.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.30
$3.53 SEK 33.08
-84.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.94 MX$462
$117 SEK 1,097
-76.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$53.7
$5.81 SEK 54.5
-46.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.51 MX$43.09
$1.66 SEK 15.62
51.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.15 MX$54.1
$63.5 SEK 596
-95.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$21.88
$1.94 SEK 18.18
-34.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K MX$521.3K
$33.0K SEK 309.4K
-7.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K MX$404.5K
$34.8K SEK 326.7K
-32.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 MX$1,425
$105 SEK 987
-21.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71 MX$390
$27.59 SEK 259
-17.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46 MX$506
$43.55 SEK 409
-32.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 MX$875
$36.56 SEK 343
39.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33 MX$315
$42.51 SEK 399
-56.88%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93 MX$84.5
$15.80 SEK 148
-68.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,386
$150 SEK 1,405
31.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,280 MX$90.6K
$1,447 SEK 13.6K
265.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90 MX$633
$80.1 SEK 752
-53.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89 MX$685
$36.34 SEK 341
9.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.0 MX$1,373
$94.6 SEK 888
-15.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5 MX$1,536
$118 SEK 1,103
-23.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$956 MX$16.4K
$708 SEK 6,641
35.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$477 MX$8,189
$610 SEK 5,724
-21.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,646 MX$28.3K
$1,215 SEK 11.4K
35.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,225 MX$21.0K
$898 SEK 8,422
36.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,918 MX$67.2K
$3,927 SEK 36.8K
-0.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,459 MX$110.9K
$3,012 SEK 28.3K
114.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$667 MX$11.4K
$3,292 SEK 30.9K
-79.74%
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 7, 2026

Last update for Norrkoping: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $956 in Playa del Carmen and $708 in Norrkoping. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Norrkoping pays 394% 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: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $69.0 in Norrkoping for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $377 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 Norrkoping: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and Norrkoping?
Playa del Carmen and Norrkoping differ by about 40% in total monthly costs ($1,271 vs $1,775 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, Norrkoping earns 394% less. 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 Norrkoping?
Rent for a central apartment: $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $708 in Norrkoping. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Norrkoping?
All in, you'll spend $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,775 in Norrkoping – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Playa del Carmen and Norrkoping?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 334% less than in Norrkoping. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,775 in Norrkoping, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Norrkoping. 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 Norrkoping?
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 Norrkoping safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Norrkoping 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 Norrkoping?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Norrkoping. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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