Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Stockholm

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,531 in Stockholm, rent and utilities included – about $15,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Stockholm, Sweden
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Stockholm
🇸🇪 Sweden
$2,531
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Stockholm actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,204 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,531 in Stockholm, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Stockholm $2,531

A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,823 in Stockholm, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Stockholm $3,823

A family of three spends $2,959 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,114 in Stockholm, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,959
  • Stockholm $5,114

Playa del Carmen is about 52% cheaper than Stockholm, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Playa del Carmen sits 12% below the global median, while Stockholm is 86% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Stockholm
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.92 MX$205
$17.91 SEK 176
-39.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.37 MX$814
$102 SEK 1,000
-57.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 MX$221
$11.76 SEK 115
0.17%
Cappuccino
$3.81 MX$71.5
$5.17 SEK 50.8
-26.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$24.07
$3.66 SEK 35.97
-65.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 MX$14.70
$3.07 SEK 30.16
-74.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.17 MX$59.5
$7.86 SEK 77.2
-59.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$92.7
$9.11 SEK 89.4
-45.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Stockholm
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.40
$1.65 SEK 16.20
-14.55%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$41.62
$3.91 SEK 38.38
-43.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 MX$26.61
$3.72 SEK 36.47
-61.83%
Eggs
$2.52 MX$47.36
$5.09 SEK 49.96
-50.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.26 MX$136
$12.83 SEK 126
-43.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 MX$144
$12.77 SEK 125
-39.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 MX$238
$22.47 SEK 221
-43.52%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$52.3
$3.55 SEK 34.88
-21.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MX$25.68
$2.87 SEK 28.20
-52.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 MX$47.89
$3.26 SEK 31.98
-21.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$39.86
$4.36 SEK 42.77
-51.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.39
$1.76 SEK 17.30
10.23%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.41
$1.79 SEK 17.54
5.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$21.53
$2.45 SEK 24.05
-53.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 MX$22.13
$2.37 SEK 23.28
-50.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 MX$80.6
$8.68 SEK 85.2
-50.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.95 MX$187
$12.16 SEK 119
-18.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$29.73
$2.13 SEK 20.88
-25.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 MX$50.1
$2.53 SEK 24.80
5.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Stockholm
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$10.39
$4.27 SEK 41.94
-87.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.62 MX$500
$107 SEK 1,045
-75.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 MX$93.3
$6.05 SEK 59.4
-17.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.33 MX$62.5
$1.54 SEK 15.13
116.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 MX$101
$55.7 SEK 546
-90.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$27.11
$1.82 SEK 17.82
-20.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K MX$388.0K
$32.8K SEK 321.5K
-36.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$440.5K
$33.7K SEK 330.8K
-30.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Stockholm
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.8 MX$1,592
$254 SEK 2,492
-66.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41 MX$439
$21.66 SEK 213
8.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.66 MX$538
$41.33 SEK 406
-30.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Stockholm
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,071
$46.32 SEK 455
23.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.91 MX$543
$38.99 SEK 383
-25.85%
Cinema Ticket
$5.14 MX$96.5
$18.53 SEK 182
-72.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Stockholm
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,878
$160 SEK 1,566
29.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,927 MX$73.7K
$16.2K SEK 159.0K
-75.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Stockholm
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.35 MX$814
$111 SEK 1,091
-61.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.44 MX$778
$59.7 SEK 586
-30.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 MX$1,393
$133 SEK 1,305
-44.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 MX$1,676
$183 SEK 1,800
-51.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Stockholm
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 MX$18.4K
$1,614 SEK 15.8K
-39.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$381 MX$7,150
$1,031 SEK 10.1K
-63.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 MX$32.1K
$2,614 SEK 25.6K
-34.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 MX$20.2K
$1,677 SEK 16.5K
-35.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,943 MX$74.0K
$11.8K SEK 115.9K
-66.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,158 MX$115.6K
$6,816 SEK 66.9K
-9.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Stockholm
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$735 MX$13.8K
$3,521 SEK 34.6K
-79.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
3.33
243.84%

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 Stockholm: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$381
Stockholm
$1K 171% $650
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$255
Stockholm
$418 63.9% $163
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$202
Stockholm
$325 60.7% $123
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Stockholm
$317 132% $180
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Stockholm
$219 96.3% $108
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$67
Stockholm
$83 23.8% $16
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Stockholm
$137 172% $87

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $980 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,614 in Stockholm. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Stockholm are about 4.8 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $102 in Stockholm. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $255 vs $418 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇸🇪 Stockholm
🕒 Local time
03:25 3:25 AM
09:25 9:25 AM
6 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
984,748 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

SEK, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 18.77 MXN (100 MXN = 5.33 USD). 1 EUR = 20.96 MXN (100 MXN = 4.77 EUR).

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 9.81 SEK (1 SEK = 0.102 USD). 1 EUR = 10.96 SEK (100 SEK = 9.13 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Stockholm 8,870 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Stockholm

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 Stockholm: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Stockholm?
Yes – Stockholm is pricier by about 110%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,806 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,796 in Stockholm. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $980 there versus $1,614 in Stockholm.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Stockholm?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,204 in Playa del Carmen and $2,531 in Stockholm. That makes Playa del Carmen about 52% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 75% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Stockholm?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,204, than in Stockholm at $2,531. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stockholm it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city suits remote workers better?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,204 versus $2,531 in Stockholm. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Stockholm makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

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