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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,161 per month in Skelleftea vs $1,330 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,236 per month in Skelleftea vs $2,336 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,312 per month in Skelleftea vs $3,341 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Skelleftea costs about 62% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Skelleftea sits 58% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Skelleftea
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.67 SEK 158
$13.02 MX$221
28.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$83.0 SEK 787
$46.25 MX$784
79.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.67 SEK 130
$12.59 MX$213
8.58%
Cappuccino
$4.94 SEK 46.81
$4.00 MX$67.9
23.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 SEK 26.71
$1.42 MX$24.08
98.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 SEK 22.83
$0.81 MX$13.73
197.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.24 SEK 78.1
$3.05 MX$51.7
170.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.97 SEK 75.5
$6.82 MX$116
16.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Skelleftea
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 SEK 16.13
$1.71 MX$29.04
-0.58%
White Bread (500g)
$2.75 SEK 26.07
$2.22 MX$37.62
23.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.10 SEK 48.37
$1.72 MX$29.13
196.51%
Eggs
$5.40 SEK 51.2
$2.71 MX$45.99
99.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.75 SEK 111
$9.37 MX$159
25.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.41 SEK 108
$8.86 MX$150
28.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.20 SEK 239
$12.78 MX$217
97.18%
Apples (1kg)
$3.51 SEK 33.22
$3.13 MX$53.0
12.14%
Banana (1kg)
$2.55 SEK 24.14
$1.55 MX$26.24
64.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.32 SEK 31.48
$2.15 MX$36.51
54.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.60 SEK 34.08
$2.35 MX$39.89
53.19%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 SEK 22.35
$2.02 MX$34.23
16.83%
Onion (1kg)
$1.71 SEK 16.22
$1.99 MX$33.67
-14.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.39 SEK 22.61
$1.24 MX$21.09
92.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 SEK 15.63
$1.19 MX$20.21
38.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.65 SEK 72.5
$4.65 MX$78.8
64.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.04 SEK 152
$10.47 MX$177
53.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 SEK 16.81
$1.58 MX$26.82
12.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 SEK 16.19
$2.92 MX$49.48
-41.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Skelleftea
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.90 SEK 27.51
$0.56 MX$9.53
417.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.6 SEK 517
$29.76 MX$504
83.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$8.38 SEK 79.4
$5.32 MX$90.2
57.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.79 SEK 16.92
$3.72 MX$63.0
-51.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$62.4 SEK 592
$5.78 MX$97.9
980.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.83 SEK 17.33
$1.55 MX$26.27
18.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K SEK 326.5K
$22.4K MX$379.1K
54.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6K SEK 318.0K
$25.6K MX$433.3K
31.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Skelleftea
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$210 SEK 1,989
$89.3 MX$1,513
135.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.11 SEK 333
$23.30 MX$395
50.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.9 SEK 510
$31.72 MX$538
69.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Skelleftea
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.97 SEK 379
$68.8 MX$1,165
-41.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$42.20 SEK 400
$29.40 MX$498
43.54%
Cinema Ticket
$16.09 SEK 152
$5.06 MX$85.7
217.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Skelleftea
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$151 SEK 1,428
$222 MX$3,765
-32.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,774 SEK 54.7K
$4,293 MX$72.7K
34.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Skelleftea
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.7 SEK 945
$46.21 MX$783
115.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.80 SEK 415
$44.43 MX$753
-1.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.9 SEK 804
$95.5 MX$1,618
-11.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$162 SEK 1,531
$92.5 MX$1,568
74.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Skelleftea
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,216 SEK 11.5K
$1,069 MX$18.1K
13.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$854 SEK 8,092
$393 MX$6,663
117.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,649 SEK 15.6K
$1,988 MX$33.7K
-17.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,296 SEK 12.3K
$1,304 MX$22.1K
-0.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,230 SEK 40.1K
$4,037 MX$68.4K
4.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,978 SEK 28.2K
$6,627 MX$112.3K
-55.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Skelleftea
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,720 SEK 25.8K
$747 MX$12.7K
264.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.9
11.6
-66.38%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Skelleftea: August 17, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,216 in Skelleftea versus $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. 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 264% higher in Skelleftea, 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 $83.0 in Skelleftea versus $46.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $403 vs $277 – 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
Skelleftea vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Skelleftea?
Yes – Skelleftea is pricier by about 62%, 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 $3,241 per month in Skelleftea and $1,995 in Playa del Carmen. 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 Skelleftea and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,161 in Skelleftea and $1,330 in Playa del Carmen. 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 83% 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 Skelleftea or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,330, than in Skelleftea at $2,161. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Skelleftea it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Skelleftea or Playa del Carmen 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, Skelleftea or Playa del Carmen?
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, Skelleftea makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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