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