Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Visby Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Visby

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,809 in Visby, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,790 in Visby, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,771 in Visby, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 30% cheaper than Visby, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 7% below the global median, while Visby is 32% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Visby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60 MX$200
$13.09 SEK 129
-11.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11 MX$812
$84.5 SEK 833
-44.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.88 MX$205
$9.33 SEK 92.0
27.33%
Cappuccino
$3.98 MX$68.6
$4.04 SEK 39.79
-1.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 MX$24.60
$2.46 SEK 24.25
-41.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MX$14.22
$2.58 SEK 25.47
-68.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 MX$55.0
$7.73 SEK 76.2
-58.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79 MX$117
$4.09 SEK 40.33
66.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Visby
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 MX$28.89
$1.50 SEK 14.79
12.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$37.88
$3.18 SEK 31.33
-30.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 MX$29.45
$3.22 SEK 31.72
-46.89%
Eggs
$2.74 MX$47.26
$4.17 SEK 41.10
-34.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.58 MX$165
$10.22 SEK 101
-6.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.01 MX$155
$12.14 SEK 120
-25.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.81 MX$221
$16.40 SEK 162
-21.89%
Apples (1kg)
$2.89 MX$49.81
$3.07 SEK 30.23
-5.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$25.81
$2.64 SEK 26.04
-43.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 MX$37.03
$3.16 SEK 31.13
-31.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.96
$4.16 SEK 40.99
-45.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 MX$34.15
$1.79 SEK 17.67
10.61%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.30
$1.81 SEK 17.85
9.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.23 MX$21.28
$2.32 SEK 22.87
-46.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$20.63
$1.05 SEK 10.39
14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55 MX$78.5
$5.25 SEK 51.8
-13.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.37 MX$179
$12.47 SEK 123
-16.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.91
$2.32 SEK 22.83
-30.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$49.67
$1.60 SEK 15.75
80.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Visby
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MX$10.35
$3.21 SEK 31.65
-81.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.80 MX$497
$81.3 SEK 801
-64.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$92.9
$3.62 SEK 35.70
48.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.73 MX$64.3
$2.84 SEK 27.99
31.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.77 MX$99.5
$82.7 SEK 815
-93.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$26.48
$1.89 SEK 18.64
-18.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K MX$388.8K
$34.4K SEK 339.0K
-34.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K MX$449.3K
$34.4K SEK 338.6K
-24.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Visby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.4 MX$1,576
$189 SEK 1,864
-51.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20 MX$435
$23.02 SEK 227
9.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24 MX$539
$44.83 SEK 442
-30.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Visby
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 MX$1,159
$39.54 SEK 390
69.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11 MX$502
$26.38 SEK 260
10.35%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 MX$83.8
$14.39 SEK 142
-66.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Visby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$224 MX$3,856
$154 SEK 1,522
44.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,229 MX$72.9K
$5,200 SEK 51.2K
-18.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Visby
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10 MX$812
$106 SEK 1,046
-55.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29 MX$764
$41.39 SEK 408
7.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.1 MX$1,381
$91.6 SEK 902
-12.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7 MX$1,598
$143 SEK 1,414
-35.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Visby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,063 MX$18.3K
$750 SEK 7,388
41.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$390 MX$6,728
$573 SEK 5,647
-31.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,149 MX$37.1K
$1,407 SEK 13.9K
52.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,272 MX$21.9K
$1,060 SEK 10.4K
19.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,001 MX$69.0K
$4,189 SEK 41.3K
-4.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,502 MX$112.1K
$2,969 SEK 29.3K
119.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Visby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$758 MX$13.1K
$2,555 SEK 25.2K
-70.32%
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 12, 2026

Last update for Visby: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $750 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 237% 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $85.0 in Visby. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $352 – 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 43%, 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 $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,714 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 $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $1,809 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 182% 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 $1,266, than in Visby at $1,809. 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.

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