🙂A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,718 in Ystad, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,721 in Ystad, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,725 in Ystad, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 25% cheaper than Ystad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 4% below the global median, while Ystad is 28% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ystad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$11.41SEK 106
4.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$91.5SEK 851
-53.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$10.39SEK 96.7
1.92%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$3.96SEK 36.80
-8.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$3.10SEK 28.87
-52.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$2.61SEK 24.29
-63.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$6.41SEK 59.6
-51.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$7.80SEK 72.6
-42.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ystad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.74SEK 16.20
-17.82%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$2.90SEK 26.97
-35.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$3.33SEK 31.00
-51.05%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$3.07SEK 28.55
-14.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$11.71SEK 109
-29.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$9.47SEK 88.1
-12.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$18.82SEK 175
-41.02%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$3.02SEK 28.08
-12.25%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$2.77SEK 25.76
-45.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$2.97SEK 27.66
-33.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$4.24SEK 39.45
-50.94%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$1.75SEK 16.29
2.29%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$1.85SEK 17.25
17.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$2.29SEK 21.25
-52.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$1.61SEK 14.93
-35.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$7.84SEK 72.9
-49.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$11.86SEK 110
-14.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$2.22SEK 20.65
-22.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$2.53SEK 23.53
-1.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ystad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$3.36SEK 31.24
-84.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
$75.0SEK 697
-64.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$10.10SEK 93.9
-68.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$1.59SEK 14.76
50.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$63.4SEK 589
-95.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$1.89SEK 17.55
-32.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$26.3KSEK 244.5K
17.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$30.3KSEK 281.8K
-23.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ystad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$123SEK 1,141
-33.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$20.71SEK 193
8.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$32.03SEK 298
-7.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ystad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$41.24SEK 384
25.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
$25.56SEK 238
-26.96%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$12.53SEK 117
-60.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ystad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$177SEK 1,646
11.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$4,148SEK 38.6K
27.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ystad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$52.9SEK 492
-31.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$39.47SEK 367
1.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$94.0SEK 874
-15.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$156SEK 1,451
-43.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ystad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$852SEK 7,921
13.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$658SEK 6,124
-29.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$1,418SEK 13.2K
12.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$1,071SEK 9,957
12.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$4,423SEK 41.1K
-10.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
$3,203SEK 29.8K
101.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ystad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$1,996SEK 18.6K
-63.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
4
185.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Last update for Ystad: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $852 in Ystad. 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 177% higher in Ystad, 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $92.0 in Ystad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $353 – 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 Ystad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ystad cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Ystad is pricier by about 34%, 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 $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,577 in Ystad. 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 vs Ystad?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $1,718 in Ystad. 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 178% 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 Ystad?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,287, than in Ystad at $1,718. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ystad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Ystad 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 Ystad?
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, Ystad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared