๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,294 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,732 in Nykรถping.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,189 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,666 in Nykรถping.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,084 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,601 in Nykรถping.
๐Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 25% less than in Nykรถping, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 3% below, Nykรถping is 30% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Nykรถping
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$202
$10.39SEKย 97.2
12.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$719
$73.2SEKย 684
-42.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.41MX$179
$10.63SEKย 99.4
-2.07%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.1
$4.73SEKย 44.26
-23.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46MX$25.06
$2.83SEKย 26.51
-48.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.70
$2.42SEKย 22.66
-59.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92MX$50.3
$7.92SEKย 74.1
-63.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62MX$79.5
$7.25SEKย 67.9
-36.28%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Nykรถping
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.59
$1.65SEKย 15.45
-13.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90MX$32.70
$2.79SEKย 26.13
-31.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$26.95
$3.95SEKย 36.97
-60.25%
Eggs
$2.64MX$45.34
$4.16SEKย 38.95
-36.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.44MX$145
$12.14SEKย 114
-30.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.58MX$148
$11.85SEKย 111
-27.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.00MX$189
$17.42SEKย 163
-36.85%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70MX$46.51
$2.36SEKย 22.04
14.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$25.92
$2.66SEKย 24.85
-43.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.91MX$32.93
$3.08SEKย 28.85
-37.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.37
$4.32SEKย 40.37
-49.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.25
$1.64SEKย 15.36
14.02%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.43
$1.78SEKย 16.64
25.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.60
$1.14SEKย 10.68
-5.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.47
$1.38SEKย 12.90
-22.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16MX$71.6
$7.30SEKย 68.3
-43.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.29MX$177
$9.37SEKย 87.6
9.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$28.95
$1.89SEKย 17.70
-11.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.59
$1.89SEKย 17.66
33.86%
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Nykรถping
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.55MX$9.53
$3.29SEKย 30.74
-83.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.29MX$452
$48.77SEKย 456
-46.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.20MX$55.0
$6.38SEKย 59.7
-49.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.37
$1.65SEKย 15.45
49.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.20MX$55.0
$61.1SEKย 571
-94.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$22.72
$2.09SEKย 19.58
-36.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$518.8K
$32.3KSEKย 301.9K
-6.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$402.5K
$33.9KSEKย 317.2K
-31.01%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Nykรถping
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.4MX$1,400
$116SEKย 1,080
-29.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.41MX$386
$28.90SEKย 270
-22.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.97MX$516
$24.01SEKย 225
24.82%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Nykรถping
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$887
$39.03SEKย 365
32.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$316
$25.37SEKย 237
-27.51%
Cinema Ticket
$5.16MX$88.9
$15.76SEKย 147
-67.26%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Nykรถping
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$202MX$3,471
$146SEKย 1,369
37.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,311MX$91.4K
$4,202SEKย 39.3K
26.39%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Nykรถping
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.61MX$613
$94.0SEKย 879
-62.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.37MX$695
$40.70SEKย 381
-0.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.6MX$1,353
$96.2SEKย 899
-18.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.9MX$1,495
$153SEKย 1,431
-43.21%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Nykรถping
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$950MX$16.3K
$848SEKย 7,934
12.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$478MX$8,227
$664SEKย 6,212
-28.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621MX$27.9K
$1,371SEKย 12.8K
18.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,223MX$21.0K
$1,087SEKย 10.2K
12.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,009MX$69.0K
$3,937SEKย 36.8K
1.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,473MX$111.4K
$2,933SEKย 27.4K
120.66%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Nykรถping
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673MX$11.6K
$2,669SEKย 25.0K
-74.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
4.53
152.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026
Last update for Nykรถping: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $950 in Playa del Carmen and $848 in Nykรถping. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐNykรถping pays 297% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $73.0 in Nykรถping for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $254 vs $348 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 Nykรถping: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and Nykรถping?
Playa del Carmen and Nykรถping differ by about 34% in total monthly costs ($1,294 vs $1,732 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Nykรถping earns 297% 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 Nykรถping?
Rent for a central apartment: $950 in Playa del Carmen versus $848 in Nykรถping. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Playa del Carmen and Nykรถping?
Childcare runs $202 in Playa del Carmen versus $146 in Nykรถping. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in Nykรถping. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,294 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,732 in Nykรถping, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Nykรถping. 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 Nykรถping?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Playa del Carmen or Nykรถping safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Nykรถping 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 Nykรถping?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 34% less than in Nykรถping. 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