🙂A single person spends $1,259 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,950 in Uddevalla, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,177 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,033 in Uddevalla, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,095 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,116 in Uddevalla, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 35% cheaper than Uddevalla, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Uddevalla is 46% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Uddevalla
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.95MX$209
$14.40SEK 140
-17.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.94MX$734
$108SEK 1,044
-61.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.42MX$182
$10.33SEK 100
0.87%
Cappuccino
$3.51MX$61.5
$4.66SEK 45.30
-24.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52MX$26.53
$3.07SEK 29.85
-50.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.93
$2.79SEK 27.10
-67.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.04MX$53.2
$7.87SEK 76.5
-61.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37MX$76.5
$7.96SEK 77.3
-45.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Uddevalla
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42MX$24.86
$1.53SEK 14.88
-7.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83MX$32.03
$2.75SEK 26.69
-33.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.60
$3.78SEK 36.68
-56.88%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.43
$3.92SEK 38.06
-35.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.57MX$150
$12.12SEK 118
-29.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.49MX$149
$12.54SEK 122
-32.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.80MX$189
$18.84SEK 183
-42.68%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75MX$48.19
$3.30SEK 32.06
-16.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.13
$2.54SEK 24.65
-43.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.89MX$33.00
$3.42SEK 33.23
-44.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.96
$3.60SEK 34.93
-39.72%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$31.13
$2.10SEK 20.38
-15.24%
Onion(1kg)
$2.22MX$38.91
$1.99SEK 19.35
11.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.70
$2.82SEK 27.43
-62.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.89
$1.93SEK 18.79
-44.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$72.5
$7.69SEK 74.7
-46.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.45MX$183
$12.31SEK 120
-15.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74MX$30.50
$1.46SEK 14.15
19.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$45.16
$2.15SEK 20.84
20.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Uddevalla
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.98
$3.42SEK 33.24
-85.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.94MX$454
$73.6SEK 715
-64.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.21MX$56.2
$3.59SEK 34.89
-10.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.50MX$43.78
$2.55SEK 24.76
-1.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.19MX$55.7
$83.4SEK 810
-96.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.98
$1.91SEK 18.50
-34.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$519.3K
$22.9KSEK 222.0K
29.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$414.3K
$34.4KSEK 334.0K
-31.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Uddevalla
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$194SEK 1,882
-57.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.73MX$398
$29.15SEK 283
-22.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.42MX$515
$42.27SEK 411
-30.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Uddevalla
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.2MX$913
$40.85SEK 397
27.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.45MX$323
$25.34SEK 246
-27.19%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$86.3
$19.23SEK 187
-74.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Uddevalla
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$202MX$3,530
$157SEK 1,525
28.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,217MX$91.3K
$4,202SEK 40.8K
24.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Uddevalla
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93MX$629
$94.8SEK 920
-62.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$706
$42.56SEK 413
-5.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,397
$93.1SEK 904
-14.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3MX$1,562
$123SEK 1,190
-27.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Uddevalla
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$948MX$16.6K
$834SEK 8,097
13.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,140
$661SEK 6,423
-29.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,630MX$28.5K
$1,369SEK 13.3K
19.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,193MX$20.9K
$1,065SEK 10.3K
11.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,933MX$68.8K
$4,666SEK 45.3K
-15.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,428MX$112.4K
$3,094SEK 30.1K
107.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Uddevalla
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$658MX$11.5K
$2,900SEK 28.2K
-77.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
4.87
134.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026
Last update for Uddevalla: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $948 in Playa del Carmen versus $834 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 341% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $108 in Uddevalla. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $374 – 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 55%, 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 $1,888 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,925 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 $1,259 in Playa del Carmen and $1,950 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 184% 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 $1,259, than in Uddevalla at $1,950. 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