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