😐A single person spends $1,792 per month in Solna vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,718 per month in Solna vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,643 per month in Solna vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Solna costs about 43% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Solna sits 34% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Solna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.86SEK 144
$11.99MX$210
23.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.6SEK 547
$41.78MX$733
35.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.66SEK 103
$10.75MX$189
-0.84%
Cappuccino
$4.94SEK 47.78
$3.50MX$61.3
41.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18SEK 30.71
$1.45MX$25.41
119.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55SEK 14.96
$0.88MX$15.52
76.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.43SEK 71.8
$2.95MX$51.7
151.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.84SEK 75.7
$4.51MX$79.1
73.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Solna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.53SEK 14.79
$1.43MX$25.12
6.99%
White Bread(500g)
$2.68SEK 25.92
$1.84MX$32.23
45.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.77SEK 36.45
$1.57MX$27.51
140.13%
Eggs
$3.84SEK 37.13
$2.51MX$44.06
52.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.51SEK 91.9
$8.28MX$145
14.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.50SEK 121
$8.43MX$148
48.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.81SEK 143
$10.68MX$187
38.67%
Apples(1kg)
$1.70SEK 16.47
$2.61MX$45.76
-34.87%
Banana(1kg)
$2.16SEK 20.87
$1.44MX$25.22
50.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.62SEK 25.30
$1.96MX$34.41
33.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.13SEK 30.26
$2.09MX$36.74
49.76%
Potato(1kg)
$1.61SEK 15.60
$1.85MX$32.47
-12.97%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03SEK 19.58
$2.17MX$38.02
-6.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.31SEK 22.28
$1.03MX$18.09
124.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08SEK 10.45
$1.07MX$18.84
0.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.53SEK 72.8
$4.10MX$72.0
83.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.16SEK 118
$10.17MX$178
19.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.46SEK 14.12
$1.68MX$29.38
-13.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96SEK 9.23
$2.53MX$44.31
-62.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Solna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.51SEK 43.60
$0.51MX$8.93
784.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$102SEK 982
$26.04MX$457
290.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.63SEK 35.07
$3.23MX$56.7
12.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.57SEK 15.21
$2.41MX$42.19
-34.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$85.1SEK 823
$3.23MX$56.6
2535.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.91SEK 18.43
$1.32MX$23.17
44.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3KSEK 263.9K
$29.7KMX$520.9K
-8.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5KSEK 295.0K
$23.7KMX$415.0K
28.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Solna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$110SEK 1,065
$82.0MX$1,439
34.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.28SEK 273
$22.95MX$403
23.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.42SEK 400
$30.11MX$528
37.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Solna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.03SEK 455
$52.0MX$912
-9.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.77SEK 249
$18.53MX$325
39.07%
Cinema Ticket
$15.27SEK 148
$4.98MX$87.3
206.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Solna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$161SEK 1,557
$197MX$3,463
-18.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,103SEK 39.7K
$5,336MX$93.6K
-23.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Solna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.9SEK 907
$35.60MX$624
163.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.75SEK 413
$40.33MX$707
6.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.9SEK 888
$78.8MX$1,381
16.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.9SEK 511
$88.9MX$1,560
-40.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Solna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845SEK 8,164
$947MX$16.6K
-10.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$657SEK 6,351
$474MX$8,314
38.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,421SEK 13.7K
$1,644MX$28.8K
-13.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,086SEK 10.5K
$1,211MX$21.2K
-10.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,909SEK 66.8K
$4,056MX$71.1K
70.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,895SEK 28.0K
$6,470MX$113.5K
-55.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Solna
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,730SEK 36.1K
$654MX$11.5K
470.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.8
11.42
-57.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Solna: July 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $845 in Solna versus $947 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 470% higher in Solna, 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 $57.0 in Solna versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $320 vs $249 – 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
Solna vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Solna?
Yes – Solna is pricier by about 43%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $2,688 per month in Solna and $1,884 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 Solna and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,792 in Solna and $1,256 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 290% 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 Solna or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Solna at $1,792. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Solna it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Solna 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, Solna 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, Solna makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.