๐A single person spends $1,823 per month in Stenungsund vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $2,802 per month in Stenungsund vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $3,781 per month in Stenungsund vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐Stenungsund costs about 45% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Stenungsund sits 36% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Stenungsund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.97SEKย 119
$11.67MX$202
11.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.9SEKย 634
$41.88MX$726
64.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.98SEKย 82.6
$10.40MX$180
-13.65%
Cappuccino
$4.51SEKย 41.47
$3.61MX$62.6
24.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56SEKย 14.32
$1.47MX$25.45
6.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41SEKย 22.16
$0.91MX$15.80
164.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.18SEKย 66.1
$3.03MX$52.6
136.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.17SEKย 66.0
$4.47MX$77.4
60.40%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Stenungsund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.45SEKย 13.38
$1.38MX$23.83
5.07%
White Bread(500g)
$3.08SEKย 28.29
$1.84MX$31.93
67.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.92SEKย 36.03
$1.61MX$27.82
143.48%
Eggs
$3.94SEKย 36.21
$2.57MX$44.52
53.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.93SEKย 128
$8.49MX$147
64.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.94SEKย 110
$8.49MX$147
40.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.85SEKย 146
$10.99MX$190
44.22%
Apples(1kg)
$3.61SEKย 33.17
$2.73MX$47.25
32.23%
Banana(1kg)
$2.58SEKย 23.78
$1.50MX$25.92
72.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.54SEKย 14.19
$1.96MX$33.93
-21.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.59SEKย 51.4
$2.12MX$36.70
163.68%
Potato(1kg)
$1.51SEKย 13.90
$1.86MX$32.30
-18.82%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10SEKย 19.31
$2.17MX$37.67
-3.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.78SEKย 25.60
$1.07MX$18.59
159.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.75SEKย 16.10
$1.05MX$18.18
66.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.60SEKย 69.9
$4.19MX$72.6
81.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.87SEKย 81.6
$10.28MX$178
-13.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71SEKย 15.78
$1.67MX$28.87
2.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96SEKย 18.06
$2.49MX$43.12
-21.29%
๐ Getting Around
Stenungsund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.71SEKย 24.98
$0.54MX$9.37
401.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.6SEKย 677
$26.27MX$455
180.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.66SEKย 52.1
$3.10MX$53.8
82.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59SEKย 14.62
$2.46MX$42.66
-35.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.22SEKย 195
$3.24MX$56.1
554.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.98SEKย 18.26
$1.26MX$21.83
57.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2KSEKย 296.5K
$30.2KMX$522.8K
6.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.0KSEKย 312.9K
$23.4KMX$406.3K
45.08%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stenungsund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.5SEKย 824
$84.0MX$1,456
6.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.93SEKย 257
$22.21MX$385
25.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.86SEKย 339
$29.65MX$514
24.32%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Stenungsund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.19SEKย 370
$52.6MX$912
-23.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.02SEKย 230
$18.34MX$318
36.42%
Cinema Ticket
$15.67SEKย 144
$4.95MX$85.7
216.57%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Stenungsund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$145SEKย 1,333
$198MX$3,438
-26.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$729SEKย 6,705
$5,322MX$92.2K
-86.30%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Stenungsund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107SEKย 983
$35.95MX$623
197.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.62SEKย 401
$40.06MX$694
8.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118SEKย 1,088
$78.8MX$1,365
50.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158SEKย 1,451
$86.5MX$1,499
82.31%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Stenungsund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$827SEKย 7,609
$977MX$16.9K
-15.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$650SEKย 5,984
$471MX$8,158
38.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,390SEKย 12.8K
$1,595MX$27.6K
-12.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,085SEKย 9,982
$1,215MX$21.1K
-10.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,926SEKย 36.1K
$4,032MX$69.9K
-2.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,398SEKย 31.3K
$6,579MX$114.0K
-48.35%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Stenungsund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,123SEKย 19.5K
$714MX$12.4K
197.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.53
11.42
-60.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stenungsund: April 20, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $827 in Stenungsund versus $977 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.
๐ฐSalaries run about 197% higher in Stenungsund, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $69 in Stenungsund versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $364 vs $252 โ 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 โ Stenungsund is pricier by about 45%, 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 $2,735 per month in Stenungsund and $1,891 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,823 in Stenungsund and $1,261 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category โ it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 180% 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 Stenungsund or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Stenungsund at $1,823. 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 โ 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 โ 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