🙂A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,743 in Visby, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,773 in Visby, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,804 in Visby, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 28% cheaper than Visby, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 5% below the global median, while Visby is 31% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Visby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$10.48SEK 99.6
11.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$725
$95.0SEK 902
-55.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
$9.28SEK 88.2
13.25%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.0
$3.02SEK 28.72
18.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.10
$3.24SEK 30.74
-53.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.83
$2.74SEK 26.07
-66.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
$7.63SEK 72.5
-61.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.3
$4.17SEK 39.64
5.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Visby
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.16
$1.54SEK 14.61
-9.09%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.60
$2.72SEK 25.87
-30.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$26.97
$3.18SEK 30.19
-50.94%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.14
$4.03SEK 38.24
-35.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$10.75SEK 102
-22.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$12.10SEK 115
-30.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
$18.87SEK 179
-42.45%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$46.93
$3.13SEK 29.71
-13.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.04
$2.58SEK 24.54
-41.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.41
$3.11SEK 29.56
-39.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.89
$3.72SEK 35.35
-41.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.14
$1.81SEK 17.15
2.76%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.59
$1.74SEK 16.55
28.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.48
$2.93SEK 27.86
-63.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.79
$1.19SEK 11.27
-8.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.4
$5.95SEK 56.6
-29.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$180
$12.24SEK 116
-14.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.68
$2.36SEK 22.39
-29.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.19
$1.88SEK 17.89
38.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Visby
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$3.22SEK 30.63
-83.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
$49.23SEK 468
-46.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
$3.66SEK 34.74
-15.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.61
$1.19SEK 11.28
101.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.1
$86.0SEK 817
-96.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.69
$1.90SEK 18.04
-31.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$515.7K
$32.4KSEK 307.7K
-7.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$403.5K
$34.8KSEK 330.6K
-32.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Visby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,406
$190SEK 1,807
-57.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$390
$28.67SEK 272
-21.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$520
$41.87SEK 398
-28.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Visby
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$915
$48.15SEK 457
9.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$318
$41.52SEK 394
-55.71%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.1
$14.92SEK 142
-67.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Visby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,474
$159SEK 1,508
26.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.5K
$4,205SEK 39.9K
23.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Visby
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
$96.2SEK 914
-62.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$694
$43.03SEK 409
-6.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,379
$93.2SEK 885
-14.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,496
$121SEK 1,151
-28.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Visby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
$764SEK 7,261
27.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,140
$584SEK 5,546
-19.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
$1,465SEK 13.9K
12.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.8K
$1,046SEK 9,937
15.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.4K
$4,341SEK 41.2K
-8.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.3K
$3,097SEK 29.4K
113.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Visby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
$2,535SEK 24.1K
-73.31%
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 27, 2026
Last update for Visby: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $764 in Visby. 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 275% higher in Visby, 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 $95.0 in Visby. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $358 – 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 Visby: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Visby cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Visby is pricier by about 38%, 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 $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,614 in Visby. 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 Visby?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $1,743 in Visby. 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 88% 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 Visby?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,260, than in Visby at $1,743. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Visby it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Visby 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 Visby?
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, Visby makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared