🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,797 in Norrkoping.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,702 in Norrkoping.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,607 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 4% below, Norrkoping is 34% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$12.64SEK 118
-5.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$67.8SEK 631
-36.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$10.61SEK 98.6
-0.19%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$4.79SEK 44.54
-24.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$2.31SEK 21.49
-36.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$1.88SEK 17.53
-50.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$7.45SEK 69.3
-58.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$7.73SEK 71.9
-42.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.60SEK 14.92
-10.63%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$2.83SEK 26.29
-33.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$4.43SEK 41.21
-63.21%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$4.24SEK 39.46
-37.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$12.32SEK 115
-33.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$13.98SEK 130
-40.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$16.15SEK 150
-31.27%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$3.15SEK 29.29
-15.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$2.74SEK 25.48
-45.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$3.70SEK 34.42
-46.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$5.24SEK 48.77
-60.31%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$1.48SEK 13.76
20.95%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$1.83SEK 16.99
19.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$1.99SEK 18.55
-45.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$1.31SEK 12.23
-20.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$7.57SEK 70.4
-47.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$10.74SEK 99.9
-5.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$1.87SEK 17.34
-7.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$2.66SEK 24.77
-6.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$3.53SEK 32.85
-85.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
$115SEK 1,070
-76.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$5.64SEK 52.4
-44.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$1.60SEK 14.92
50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$64.3SEK 597
-95.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$1.92SEK 17.89
-33.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$32.4KSEK 301.1K
-4.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$34.4KSEK 319.7K
-32.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$106SEK 981
-22.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$27.17SEK 253
-17.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$43.59SEK 405
-31.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$35.35SEK 329
46.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
$41.50SEK 386
-55.01%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$15.73SEK 146
-68.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$145SEK 1,351
36.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$1,437SEK 13.4K
266.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$79.2SEK 736
-54.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$36.36SEK 338
10.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$95.4SEK 887
-16.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$115SEK 1,073
-22.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$704SEK 6,546
36.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$620SEK 5,766
-25.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$1,224SEK 11.4K
30.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$907SEK 8,437
33.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$4,147SEK 38.6K
-4.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
$3,084SEK 28.7K
109.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$3,257SEK 30.3K
-77.88%
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: April 25, 2026
Last update for Norrkoping: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $704 in Norrkoping. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Norrkoping pays 352% 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 $68.0 in Norrkoping for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $376 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 ($1,287 vs $1,797 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 352% 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: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $704 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 $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,797 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 327% 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 $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,797 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared