๐A single person spends $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,903 in Uddevalla, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $2,130 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,967 in Uddevalla, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $2,999 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,030 in Uddevalla, rent included.
๐Playa del Carmen is about 34% cheaper than Uddevalla, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Uddevalla is 42% above โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Uddevalla
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.67MX$202
$14.95SEKย 137
-21.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.88MX$726
$106SEKย 975
-60.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.40MX$180
$10.44SEKย 96.1
-0.38%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.6
$4.71SEKย 43.29
-23.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.45
$3.23SEKย 29.72
-54.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.80
$2.88SEKย 26.51
-68.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$7.82SEKย 72.0
-61.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47MX$77.4
$7.82SEKย 71.9
-42.84%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Uddevalla
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.83
$1.59SEKย 14.60
-13.21%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.93
$2.63SEKย 24.22
-30.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.82
$3.89SEKย 35.77
-58.61%
Eggs
$2.57MX$44.52
$3.87SEKย 35.61
-33.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$11.84SEKย 109
-28.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$12.54SEKย 115
-32.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.99MX$190
$18.82SEKย 173
-41.60%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.25
$3.35SEKย 30.80
-18.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.92
$2.65SEKย 24.39
-43.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.93
$3.43SEKย 31.59
-42.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.70
$3.62SEKย 33.27
-41.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.30
$2.19SEKย 20.16
-15.07%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.67
$2.00SEKย 18.36
8.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.59
$2.82SEKย 25.95
-62.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05MX$18.18
$1.93SEKย 17.76
-45.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.6
$7.82SEKย 71.9
-46.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.28MX$178
$10.89SEKย 100
-5.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.87
$1.38SEKย 12.71
21.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49MX$43.12
$2.26SEKย 20.75
10.18%
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Uddevalla
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$3.42SEKย 31.44
-84.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.27MX$455
$72.7SEKย 668
-63.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10MX$53.8
$3.66SEKย 33.68
-15.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.66
$2.67SEKย 24.54
-7.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.1
$84.7SEKย 779
-96.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.83
$1.97SEKย 18.13
-36.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$522.8K
$23.5KSEKย 216.4K
28.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.3K
$34.9KSEKย 321.3K
-32.87%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Uddevalla
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0MX$1,456
$189SEKย 1,735
-55.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21MX$385
$29.16SEKย 268
-23.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65MX$514
$40.80SEKย 375
-27.33%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Uddevalla
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.6MX$912
$41.28SEKย 380
27.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.34MX$318
$25.11SEKย 231
-26.96%
Cinema Ticket
$4.95MX$85.7
$19.67SEKย 181
-74.83%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Uddevalla
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,438
$161SEKย 1,486
22.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,322MX$92.2K
$4,195SEKย 38.6K
26.84%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Uddevalla
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.95MX$623
$95.1SEKย 875
-62.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06MX$694
$42.24SEKย 389
-5.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,365
$93.0SEKย 856
-15.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,499
$123SEKย 1,135
-29.85%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Uddevalla
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$977MX$16.9K
$855SEKย 7,866
14.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$471MX$8,158
$644SEKย 5,929
-26.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595MX$27.6K
$1,374SEKย 12.6K
16.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,215MX$21.1K
$1,069SEKย 9,835
13.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,032MX$69.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,579MX$114.0K
-
-
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Uddevalla
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$714MX$12.4K
$3,057SEKย 28.1K
-76.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
4.87
134.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Last update for Uddevalla: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $855 in Uddevalla. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐ฐSalaries run about 328% higher in Uddevalla, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $42 in Playa del Carmen versus $106 in Uddevalla. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $371 โ 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 โ Uddevalla is pricier by about 51%, 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 $1,891 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,855 in Uddevalla. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ 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 Uddevalla?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,261 in Playa del Carmen and $1,903 in Uddevalla. The difference isn't just one category โ it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 177% 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 Uddevalla?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Uddevalla at $1,903. 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 โ 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 โ 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