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