Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Vasteras

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $1,813 in Vasteras, rent and utilities included – about $7,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Vasteras, Sweden
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Vasteras
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,813
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Vasteras

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Vasteras actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,204 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,813 in Vasteras, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Vasteras $1,813

A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,791 in Vasteras, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Vasteras $2,791

A family of three spends $2,959 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,769 in Vasteras, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,959
  • Vasteras $3,769

Playa del Carmen is about 34% cheaper than Vasteras, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Playa del Carmen sits 12% below the global median, while Vasteras is 33% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Vasteras
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.92 MX$205
$13.81 SEK 136
-20.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.37 MX$814
$65.2 SEK 640
-33.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 MX$221
$10.03 SEK 98.5
17.45%
Cappuccino
$3.81 MX$71.5
$4.36 SEK 42.80
-12.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$24.07
$2.25 SEK 22.13
-43.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 MX$14.70
$2.17 SEK 21.26
-64.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.17 MX$59.5
$7.21 SEK 70.8
-56.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$92.7
$6.88 SEK 67.5
-28.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Vasteras
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.40
$1.44 SEK 14.14
-2.08%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$41.62
$2.90 SEK 28.45
-23.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 MX$26.61
$3.71 SEK 36.44
-61.73%
Eggs
$2.52 MX$47.36
$3.97 SEK 38.93
-36.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.26 MX$136
$12.30 SEK 121
-40.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 MX$144
$12.99 SEK 127
-40.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 MX$238
$22.60 SEK 222
-43.85%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$52.3
$3.19 SEK 31.28
-12.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MX$25.68
$2.43 SEK 23.89
-43.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 MX$47.89
$3.59 SEK 35.27
-28.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$39.86
$4.34 SEK 42.59
-51.15%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.39
$1.44 SEK 14.12
34.72%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.41
$1.72 SEK 16.87
9.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$21.53
$2.15 SEK 21.05
-46.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 MX$22.13
$1.51 SEK 14.79
-21.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 MX$80.6
$7.00 SEK 68.7
-38.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.95 MX$187
$13.43 SEK 132
-25.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$29.73
$1.33 SEK 13.00
18.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 MX$50.1
$2.11 SEK 20.75
26.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Vasteras
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$10.39
$3.30 SEK 32.35
-83.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.62 MX$500
$71.4 SEK 700
-62.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 MX$93.3
$3.59 SEK 35.21
38.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.33 MX$62.5
$2.53 SEK 24.85
31.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 MX$101
$81.6 SEK 800
-93.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$27.11
$1.68 SEK 16.46
-14.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K MX$388.0K
$32.5K SEK 319.1K
-36.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$440.5K
$33.2K SEK 325.8K
-29.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Vasteras
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.8 MX$1,592
$181 SEK 1,778
-53.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41 MX$439
$22.35 SEK 219
4.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.66 MX$538
$44.02 SEK 432
-34.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Vasteras
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,071
$34.62 SEK 340
64.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.91 MX$543
$20.41 SEK 200
41.65%
Cinema Ticket
$5.14 MX$96.5
$16.31 SEK 160
-68.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Vasteras
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,878
$153 SEK 1,500
35.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,927 MX$73.7K
$4,923 SEK 48.3K
-20.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Vasteras
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.35 MX$814
$103 SEK 1,007
-57.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.44 MX$778
$39.67 SEK 389
4.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 MX$1,393
$88.1 SEK 864
-15.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 MX$1,676
$136 SEK 1,339
-34.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Vasteras
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 MX$18.4K
$757 SEK 7,430
29.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$381 MX$7,150
$590 SEK 5,786
-35.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 MX$32.1K
$1,325 SEK 13.0K
28.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 MX$20.2K
$1,037 SEK 10.2K
3.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,943 MX$74.0K
$3,597 SEK 35.3K
9.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,158 MX$115.6K
$2,463 SEK 24.2K
150.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Vasteras
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$735 MX$13.8K
$2,991 SEK 29.4K
-75.45%
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: October 25, 2026

Last update for Vasteras: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$381
Vasteras
$590 54.8% $209
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$255
Vasteras
$383 50.1% $128
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$202
Vasteras
$260 28.7% $58
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Vasteras
$248 80.9% $111
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Vasteras
$165 47.7% $53
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$67
Vasteras
$67 0.1% $0.1
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Vasteras
$101 99.8% $50

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $980 in Playa del Carmen versus $757 in Vasteras. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Vasteras are about 4.1 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $65 in Vasteras. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $255 vs $383 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇸🇪 Vasteras
🕒 Local time
19:07 7:07 PM
01:07 1:07 AM
6 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
110,877
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

SEK, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18.77 MXN (100 MXN = 5.33 USD). 1 EUR = 20.96 MXN (100 MXN = 4.77 EUR).

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 9.81 SEK (1 SEK = 0.102 USD). 1 EUR = 10.96 SEK (100 SEK = 9.13 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Vasteras 8,770 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Vasteras

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Vasteras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Vasteras?
Yes – Vasteras is pricier by about 51%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,806 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,720 in Vasteras. 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 Vasteras, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $757 there versus $980 in Playa del Carmen.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Vasteras?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,204 in Playa del Carmen and $1,813 in Vasteras. That makes Playa del Carmen about 34% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 63% 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 Vasteras?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,204, than in Vasteras at $1,813. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vasteras it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city suits remote workers better?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,204 versus $1,813 in Vasteras. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Vasteras makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?