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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,305 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,850 in Uddevalla, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,854 in Uddevalla, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,362 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,858 in Uddevalla, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 29% cheaper than Uddevalla, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 5% below the global median, while Uddevalla is 34% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Uddevalla
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96 MX$203
$13.95 SEK 135
-14.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.38 MX$804
$84.4 SEK 818
-43.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.75 MX$199
$11.47 SEK 111
2.44%
Cappuccino
$4.12 MX$70.0
$4.59 SEK 44.50
-10.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 MX$23.74
$1.45 SEK 14.03
-3.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 MX$15.48
$1.22 SEK 11.84
-25.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 MX$54.4
$7.62 SEK 73.9
-57.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07 MX$120
$7.88 SEK 76.4
-10.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Uddevalla
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 MX$28.44
$1.51 SEK 14.63
11.26%
White Bread (500g)
$2.15 MX$36.48
$2.25 SEK 21.80
-4.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 MX$30.10
$3.86 SEK 37.45
-54.15%
Eggs
$2.82 MX$47.76
$4.21 SEK 40.85
-33.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.20 MX$156
$10.50 SEK 102
-12.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.23 MX$157
$13.05 SEK 126
-29.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.64 MX$214
$10.61 SEK 103
19.13%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 MX$50.1
$3.23 SEK 31.29
-8.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 MX$26.79
$2.61 SEK 25.29
-39.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 MX$37.70
$3.86 SEK 37.40
-42.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.36 MX$40.09
$4.11 SEK 39.83
-42.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 MX$33.81
$2.10 SEK 20.38
-5.24%
Onion (1kg)
$1.98 MX$33.58
$1.88 SEK 18.23
5.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.24 MX$21.04
$2.24 SEK 21.74
-44.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 MX$20.55
$1.58 SEK 15.29
-23.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.60 MX$78.1
$8.04 SEK 78.0
-42.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.52 MX$178
$12.69 SEK 123
-17.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 MX$28.70
$1.37 SEK 13.29
23.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 MX$47.06
$2.19 SEK 21.27
26.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Uddevalla
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MX$10.22
$3.69 SEK 35.81
-83.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.70 MX$504
$79.8 SEK 774
-62.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.24 MX$88.8
$3.59 SEK 34.78
45.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.65 MX$61.9
$2.89 SEK 28.05
26.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.78 MX$98.1
$83.1 SEK 806
-93.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$26.09
$1.81 SEK 17.51
-14.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K MX$386.8K
$35.0K SEK 339.0K
-34.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K MX$437.9K
$34.1K SEK 330.8K
-24.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Uddevalla
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.7 MX$1,538
$188 SEK 1,822
-51.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.19 MX$427
$10.33 SEK 100
143.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.75 MX$539
$45.38 SEK 440
-30.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Uddevalla
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.8 MX$1,167
$39.13 SEK 379
75.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.37 MX$498
$27.35 SEK 265
7.39%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 MX$82.5
$12.66 SEK 123
-61.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Uddevalla
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$226 MX$3,828
$158 SEK 1,534
42.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,194 MX$71.1K
$5,221 SEK 50.6K
-19.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Uddevalla
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.38 MX$804
$109 SEK 1,061
-56.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.45 MX$737
$41.20 SEK 399
5.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.2 MX$1,361
$92.2 SEK 894
-13.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4 MX$1,550
$144 SEK 1,395
-36.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Uddevalla
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,086 MX$18.4K
$839 SEK 8,138
29.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$409 MX$6,933
$606 SEK 5,871
-32.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,972 MX$33.5K
$1,373 SEK 13.3K
43.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,281 MX$21.7K
$1,055 SEK 10.2K
21.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,046 MX$68.6K
$4,308 SEK 41.8K
-6.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,704 MX$113.7K
$2,731 SEK 26.5K
145.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Uddevalla
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$773 MX$13.1K
$2,875 SEK 27.9K
-73.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
3.53
224.36%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Last update for Uddevalla: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,086 in Playa del Carmen versus $839 in Uddevalla. 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 272% higher in Uddevalla, 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $84.0 in Uddevalla. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $278 vs $341 – 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 Uddevalla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Uddevalla cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Uddevalla is pricier by about 42%, 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 $1,958 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,774 in Uddevalla. 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 and in Uddevalla?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,305 in Playa del Carmen and $1,850 in Uddevalla. 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 169% 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 Uddevalla?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,305, than in Uddevalla at $1,850. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Uddevalla it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Uddevalla 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 Uddevalla?
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, Uddevalla makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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