😐A single person spends $1,789 per month in Stenungsund vs $1,259 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,786 per month in Stenungsund vs $2,177 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,784 per month in Stenungsund vs $3,095 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Stenungsund costs about 42% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Stenungsund 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
Stenungsund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.16SEK 128
$11.95MX$209
10.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.9SEK 659
$41.94MX$734
61.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.33SEK 90.6
$10.42MX$182
-10.46%
Cappuccino
$4.52SEK 43.88
$3.51MX$61.5
28.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60SEK 15.58
$1.52MX$26.53
5.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47SEK 23.98
$0.91MX$15.93
171.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.26SEK 70.5
$3.04MX$53.2
138.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.17SEK 69.6
$4.37MX$76.5
64.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stenungsund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.50SEK 14.59
$1.42MX$24.86
5.63%
White Bread(500g)
$3.17SEK 30.80
$1.83MX$32.03
73.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.93SEK 38.14
$1.63MX$28.60
141.10%
Eggs
$4.02SEK 39.04
$2.54MX$44.43
58.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.03SEK 136
$8.57MX$150
63.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.92SEK 116
$8.49MX$149
40.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.56SEK 151
$10.80MX$189
44.07%
Apples(1kg)
$3.54SEK 34.42
$2.75MX$48.19
28.73%
Banana(1kg)
$2.71SEK 26.36
$1.44MX$25.13
88.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.56SEK 15.14
$1.89MX$33.00
-17.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.88SEK 57.1
$2.17MX$37.96
170.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55SEK 15.09
$1.78MX$31.13
-12.92%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09SEK 20.29
$2.22MX$38.91
-5.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.66SEK 25.84
$1.07MX$18.70
148.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.75SEK 17.04
$1.08MX$18.89
62.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.53SEK 73.1
$4.15MX$72.5
81.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.21SEK 79.7
$10.45MX$183
-21.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73SEK 16.83
$1.74MX$30.50
-0.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91SEK 18.53
$2.58MX$45.16
-25.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Stenungsund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.62SEK 25.46
$0.51MX$8.98
413.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.8SEK 716
$25.94MX$454
184.35%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.75SEK 55.9
$3.21MX$56.2
79.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.61SEK 15.61
$2.50MX$43.78
-35.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.44SEK 208
$3.19MX$55.7
572.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.98SEK 19.24
$1.26MX$21.98
57.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.9KSEK 319.9K
$29.7KMX$519.3K
10.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9KSEK 329.2K
$23.7KMX$414.3K
43.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stenungsund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.1SEK 885
$82.0MX$1,435
11.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.93SEK 271
$22.73MX$398
22.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.03SEK 350
$29.42MX$515
22.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stenungsund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.16SEK 400
$52.2MX$913
-21.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.68SEK 249
$18.45MX$323
39.19%
Cinema Ticket
$15.97SEK 155
$4.93MX$86.3
223.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stenungsund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$143SEK 1,389
$202MX$3,530
-29.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$749SEK 7,273
$5,217MX$91.3K
-85.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stenungsund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106SEK 1,026
$35.93MX$629
193.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.56SEK 433
$40.33MX$706
10.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114SEK 1,109
$79.9MX$1,397
42.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158SEK 1,536
$89.3MX$1,562
77.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stenungsund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$843SEK 8,184
$948MX$16.6K
-11.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$658SEK 6,389
$465MX$8,140
41.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,407SEK 13.7K
$1,630MX$28.5K
-13.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,071SEK 10.4K
$1,193MX$20.9K
-10.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,497SEK 43.7K
$3,933MX$68.8K
14.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,089SEK 30.0K
$6,428MX$112.4K
-51.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stenungsund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,977SEK 19.2K
$658MX$11.5K
200.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.53
11.42
-60.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stenungsund: July 21, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $843 in Stenungsund versus $948 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 200% higher in Stenungsund, 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 $68.0 in Stenungsund versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $366 vs $252 – 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
Stenungsund vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Stenungsund?
Yes – Stenungsund is pricier by about 42%, 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 $2,684 per month in Stenungsund and $1,888 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 Stenungsund and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,789 in Stenungsund and $1,259 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 184% 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 Stenungsund or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,259, than in Stenungsund at $1,789. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stenungsund it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Stenungsund 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, Stenungsund 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, Stenungsund makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Stenungsund vs other spots: cost of living compared