Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Sundsvall Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Sundsvall

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,776 in Sundsvall, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,653 in Sundsvall, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,530 in Sundsvall, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 27% cheaper than Sundsvall, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 3% below the global median, while Sundsvall is 33% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Sundsvall
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$12.51 SEK 118
-6.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$721
$84.4 SEK 793
-50.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
$10.30 SEK 96.7
3.30%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$61.0
$4.41 SEK 41.46
-20.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.17
$2.53 SEK 23.76
-40.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.87
$2.10 SEK 19.72
-53.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.1
$7.44 SEK 69.9
-60.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.2
$8.09 SEK 76.0
-44.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Sundsvall
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.97
$1.58 SEK 14.86
-12.66%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.78
$3.31 SEK 31.07
-42.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.37
$3.74 SEK 35.14
-56.15%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.42
$3.58 SEK 33.65
-29.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$145
$10.20 SEK 95.9
-18.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$145
$10.35 SEK 97.2
-19.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$186
$18.47 SEK 173
-41.91%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.12
$2.90 SEK 27.22
-10.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.25
$2.44 SEK 22.88
-40.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.94
$2.65 SEK 24.91
-28.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.98
$4.06 SEK 38.09
-48.77%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.77
$1.46 SEK 13.76
21.92%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.87
$1.48 SEK 13.87
47.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$18.02
$1.88 SEK 17.67
-44.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.66
$0.99 SEK 9.32
9.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.7
$7.78 SEK 73.1
-47.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$179
$9.39 SEK 88.2
9.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.67
$1.64 SEK 15.39
4.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.63
$1.50 SEK 14.13
72.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Sundsvall
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.83
$3.42 SEK 32.17
-85.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$459
$86.4 SEK 811
-69.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.5
$6.20 SEK 58.2
-47.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.17
$1.23 SEK 11.58
102.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.3
$61.1 SEK 574
-94.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.65
$1.90 SEK 17.85
-31.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$524.7K
$26.5K SEK 249.2K
14.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$406.0K
$27.7K SEK 259.8K
-15.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Sundsvall
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,436
$131 SEK 1,235
-36.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$385
$30.18 SEK 283
-26.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$508
$26.01 SEK 244
12.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Sundsvall
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$895
$38.55 SEK 362
33.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
$26.01 SEK 244
-29.57%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.8
$14.47 SEK 136
-64.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Sundsvall
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,480
$144 SEK 1,353
39.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.3K
$4,148 SEK 39.0K
25.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Sundsvall
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$640
$93.6 SEK 879
-60.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$689
$30.00 SEK 282
32.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,360
$75.7 SEK 711
3.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,509
$132 SEK 1,239
-33.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Sundsvall
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.9K
$828 SEK 7,776
17.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,105
$625 SEK 5,872
-25.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
$1,197 SEK 11.2K
37.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.2K
$890 SEK 8,361
37.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.4K
$2,598 SEK 24.4K
51.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.6K
$1,350 SEK 12.7K
381.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Sundsvall
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
$3,231 SEK 30.4K
-79.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
4.48
154.91%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Sundsvall: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $828 in Sundsvall. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 387% higher in Sundsvall, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $84.0 in Sundsvall. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $333 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Sundsvall: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sundsvall cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Sundsvall is pricier by about 37%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,664 in Sundsvall. 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Sundsvall?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $1,776 in Sundsvall. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 226% 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 Playa del Carmen or Sundsvall?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Sundsvall at $1,776. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sundsvall it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Sundsvall more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Sundsvall?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sundsvall makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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