Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Norrkoping

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $1,792 in Norrkoping, rent and utilities included – about $7,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Norrkoping, Sweden
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Norrkoping
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,792
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Norrkoping

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Norrkoping actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,792 in Norrkoping.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Norrkoping $1,792

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,745 in Norrkoping.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Norrkoping $2,745

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,959 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,699 in Norrkoping.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,959
  • Norrkoping $3,699

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 33% less than in Norrkoping, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 12% below, Norrkoping is 32% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.92 MX$205
$13.85 SEK 135
-21.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.37 MX$813
$80.9 SEK 789
-46.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 MX$221
$10.11 SEK 98.7
16.52%
Cappuccino
$3.81 MX$71.4
$4.98 SEK 48.59
-23.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$24.03
$3.10 SEK 30.24
-58.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 MX$14.67
$2.39 SEK 23.32
-67.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.17 MX$59.3
$7.71 SEK 75.2
-58.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$92.5
$8.06 SEK 78.7
-38.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.35
$1.83 SEK 17.81
-22.95%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$41.54
$2.84 SEK 27.70
-21.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 MX$26.56
$4.40 SEK 42.92
-67.73%
Eggs
$2.52 MX$47.27
$4.08 SEK 39.79
-38.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.26 MX$136
$9.99 SEK 97.5
-27.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 MX$144
$14.60 SEK 142
-47.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 MX$238
$18.12 SEK 177
-29.97%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$52.2
$3.29 SEK 32.10
-15.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MX$25.64
$2.76 SEK 26.88
-50.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 MX$47.80
$3.60 SEK 35.16
-29.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$39.78
$5.30 SEK 51.7
-60.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.32
$1.38 SEK 13.44
40.58%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.34
$1.73 SEK 16.90
9.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$21.49
$2.05 SEK 19.97
-43.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 MX$22.09
$1.32 SEK 12.90
-10.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 MX$80.5
$7.47 SEK 72.9
-42.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.95 MX$186
$10.18 SEK 99.3
-2.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$29.67
$1.89 SEK 18.41
-16.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 MX$50.1
$1.96 SEK 19.08
36.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$10.37
$3.35 SEK 32.67
-83.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.62 MX$499
$100 SEK 980
-73.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 MX$93.1
$5.56 SEK 54.3
-10.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.33 MX$62.4
$1.27 SEK 12.42
162.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 MX$100
$61.5 SEK 599
-91.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$27.06
$1.75 SEK 17.04
-17.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K MX$387.3K
$31.3K SEK 305.0K
-33.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$439.7K
$33.1K SEK 322.8K
-29.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.8 MX$1,589
$99.5 SEK 971
-14.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41 MX$439
$28.69 SEK 280
-18.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.66 MX$537
$45.28 SEK 442
-36.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,069
$34.01 SEK 332
67.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.91 MX$542
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.14 MX$96.3
$14.86 SEK 145
-65.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,871
$126 SEK 1,231
63.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,927 MX$73.6K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.35 MX$812
$69.5 SEK 678
-37.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.44 MX$777
$30.47 SEK 297
36.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 MX$1,390
$94.2 SEK 919
-21.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 MX$1,672
$204 SEK 1,985
-56.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 MX$18.4K
$659 SEK 6,431
48.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$381 MX$7,136
$595 SEK 5,804
-35.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 MX$32.0K
$1,166 SEK 11.4K
46.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 MX$20.1K
$883 SEK 8,616
21.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,943 MX$73.9K
$4,492 SEK 43.8K
-12.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,158 MX$115.4K
$3,370 SEK 32.9K
82.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$735 MX$13.8K
$3,054 SEK 29.8K
-75.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
4.09
179.95%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Last update for Norrkoping: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$381
Norrkoping
$595 56.2% $214
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$255
Norrkoping
$377 48.1% $122
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$202
Norrkoping
$278 37.2% $75
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Norrkoping
$174 26.8% $37
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Norrkoping
$179 60.2% $67
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$67
Norrkoping
$64 5.3% $3.6
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Norrkoping
$126 149% $75

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $980 in Playa del Carmen and $659 in Norrkoping. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Norrkoping pays about 4.2 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $43 in Playa del Carmen vs $81 in Norrkoping for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $255 vs $377 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇸🇪 Norrkoping
🕒 Local time
16:04 4:04 PM
22:04 10:04 PM
6 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
98,088
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

SEK, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18.74 MXN (100 MXN = 5.34 USD). 1 EUR = 21 MXN (100 MXN = 4.76 EUR).

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 9.76 SEK (1 SEK = 0.103 USD). 1 EUR = 10.93 SEK (100 SEK = 9.15 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Norrkoping 8,800 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Norrkoping

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 in Norrkoping?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,204 in Playa del Carmen and $1,792 in Norrkoping, so Playa del Carmen is about 33% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 76% lower in Playa del Carmen. 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 Norrkoping?
Rent for a central apartment: $980 in Playa del Carmen versus $659 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 $1,204 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,792 in Norrkoping – Playa del Carmen is about 33% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How do commuting costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Norrkoping?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 74% less than in Norrkoping. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,792 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.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Norrkoping?
It comes down to priorities – Playa del Carmen wins on affordability, Norrkoping on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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