🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,774 in Norrkoping.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,125 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,715 in Norrkoping.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,990 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,655 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 5% below, Norrkoping is 33% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$12.47SEK 118
-6.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$725
$68.5SEK 650
-38.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
$10.60SEK 101
-0.85%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.0
$4.97SEK 47.23
-27.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.10
$2.36SEK 22.40
-36.02%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.83
$1.81SEK 17.15
-49.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
$7.27SEK 69.0
-59.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.3
$8.06SEK 76.6
-45.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.16
$1.59SEK 15.10
-11.95%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.60
$2.86SEK 27.18
-34.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$26.97
$4.57SEK 43.40
-65.86%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.14
$4.24SEK 40.28
-38.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$12.36SEK 117
-32.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$14.29SEK 136
-41.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
$16.25SEK 154
-33.17%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$46.93
$3.12SEK 29.68
-13.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.04
$2.83SEK 26.93
-46.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.41
$3.61SEK 34.26
-48.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.89
$5.01SEK 47.62
-56.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.14
$1.45SEK 13.78
28.28%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.59
$1.86SEK 17.69
19.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.48
$1.98SEK 18.84
-45.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.79
$1.31SEK 12.43
-16.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.4
$7.66SEK 72.8
-45.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$180
$10.22SEK 97.1
2.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.68
$1.86SEK 17.64
-10.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.19
$2.59SEK 24.64
0.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$3.55SEK 33.74
-84.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
$118SEK 1,120
-77.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
$5.74SEK 54.5
-46.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.61
$1.66SEK 15.81
44.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.1
$64.8SEK 615
-95.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.69
$1.99SEK 18.87
-34.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$515.7K
$33.0KSEK 313.1K
-9.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$403.5K
$34.8KSEK 330.5K
-32.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,406
$103SEK 977
-20.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$390
$27.44SEK 261
-17.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$520
$43.88SEK 417
-31.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$915
$36.43SEK 346
45.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$318
$42.01SEK 399
-56.22%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.1
$16.03SEK 152
-69.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,474
$146SEK 1,386
37.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.5K
$1,415SEK 13.4K
265.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
$78.9SEK 749
-54.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$694
$36.57SEK 347
9.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,379
$95.8SEK 910
-16.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,496
$115SEK 1,093
-24.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
$709SEK 6,734
37.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,140
$604SEK 5,734
-22.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
$1,222SEK 11.6K
35.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.8K
$913SEK 8,677
31.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.4K
$3,896SEK 37.0K
1.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.3K
$2,869SEK 27.3K
130.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Norrkoping
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
$3,077SEK 29.2K
-78.01%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Norrkoping: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $978 in Playa del Carmen and $709 in Norrkoping. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Norrkoping pays 355% 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: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $68.0 in Norrkoping for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 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 in Norrkoping?
Playa del Carmen and Norrkoping differ by about 41% in total monthly costs ($1,260 vs $1,774 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 355% 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: $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $709 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 $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,774 in Norrkoping – a 41% 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 351% 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 $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,774 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 41% 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