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: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,793 in Norrkoping.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,279 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,682 in Norrkoping.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,292 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,571 in Norrkoping.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 29% less than in Norrkoping, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 7% below, Norrkoping is 31% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60 MX$200
$12.83 SEK 126
-9.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11 MX$812
$62.3 SEK 614
-24.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.88 MX$205
$10.45 SEK 103
13.68%
Cappuccino
$3.98 MX$68.6
$5.11 SEK 50.4
-22.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 MX$24.60
$2.88 SEK 28.34
-50.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MX$14.22
$2.18 SEK 21.52
-62.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 MX$55.0
$7.03 SEK 69.3
-54.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79 MX$117
$8.12 SEK 80.0
-16.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 MX$28.89
$1.78 SEK 17.52
-5.62%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$37.88
$2.89 SEK 28.46
-23.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 MX$29.45
$4.13 SEK 40.74
-58.60%
Eggs
$2.74 MX$47.26
$4.10 SEK 40.36
-33.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.58 MX$165
$10.32 SEK 102
-7.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.01 MX$155
$15.15 SEK 149
-40.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.81 MX$221
$18.58 SEK 183
-31.05%
Apples (1kg)
$2.89 MX$49.81
$3.23 SEK 31.87
-10.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$25.81
$2.84 SEK 28.01
-47.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 MX$37.03
$3.70 SEK 36.43
-41.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.96
$5.36 SEK 52.8
-57.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 MX$34.15
$1.41 SEK 13.93
40.43%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.30
$1.80 SEK 17.78
10.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.23 MX$21.28
$2.00 SEK 19.72
-38.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$20.63
$1.31 SEK 12.96
-8.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55 MX$78.5
$7.84 SEK 77.3
-41.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.37 MX$179
$10.05 SEK 99.0
3.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.91
$1.98 SEK 19.50
-18.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$49.67
$2.07 SEK 20.35
39.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MX$10.35
$3.47 SEK 34.18
-82.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.80 MX$497
$103 SEK 1,019
-72.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$92.9
$5.45 SEK 53.7
-1.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.73 MX$64.3
$1.31 SEK 12.93
184.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.77 MX$99.5
$62.9 SEK 620
-90.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$26.48
$1.71 SEK 16.82
-9.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K MX$388.8K
$32.2K SEK 317.1K
-29.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K MX$449.3K
$33.9K SEK 333.7K
-23.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.4 MX$1,576
$99.7 SEK 983
-8.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20 MX$435
$29.35 SEK 289
-14.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24 MX$539
$44.34 SEK 437
-29.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 MX$1,159
$34.95 SEK 344
92.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11 MX$502
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 MX$83.8
$15.16 SEK 149
-67.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$224 MX$3,856
$130 SEK 1,285
71.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,229 MX$72.9K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10 MX$812
$70.3 SEK 692
-32.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29 MX$764
$30.23 SEK 298
46.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.1 MX$1,381
$97.2 SEK 958
-17.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7 MX$1,598
$208 SEK 2,045
-55.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,063 MX$18.3K
$677 SEK 6,676
56.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$390 MX$6,728
$591 SEK 5,820
-33.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,149 MX$37.1K
$1,192 SEK 11.7K
80.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,272 MX$21.9K
$876 SEK 8,634
45.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,001 MX$69.0K
$4,600 SEK 45.3K
-13.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,502 MX$112.1K
$3,492 SEK 34.4K
86.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$758 MX$13.1K
$3,182 SEK 31.4K
-76.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
3.94
190.61%

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 Norrkoping: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen and $677 in Norrkoping. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Norrkoping pays 320% 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 $62.0 in Norrkoping for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $276 vs $383 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 in Norrkoping?
Playa del Carmen and Norrkoping differ by about 42% in total monthly costs ($1,266 vs $1,793 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 320% lower in Norrkoping. 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: $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $677 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 $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,793 in Norrkoping – a 42% 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 in Norrkoping?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 259% 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 $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,793 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 42% less than in Norrkoping. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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