😐A single person spends $1,909 per month in Stenungsund vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,961 per month in Stenungsund vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,014 per month in Stenungsund vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Stenungsund costs about 46% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Stenungsund sits 38% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stenungsund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.15SEK 137
$11.96MX$203
18.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.2SEK 651
$47.38MX$804
41.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.23SEK 89.5
$11.75MX$199
-21.45%
Cappuccino
$4.39SEK 42.57
$4.12MX$70.0
6.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58SEK 15.36
$1.40MX$23.74
12.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29SEK 22.16
$0.91MX$15.48
151.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.14SEK 69.3
$3.21MX$54.4
122.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.18SEK 69.6
$7.07MX$120
1.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stenungsund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.48SEK 14.33
$1.68MX$28.44
-11.90%
White Bread(500g)
$3.23SEK 31.31
$2.15MX$36.48
50.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.60SEK 54.3
$1.77MX$30.10
216.38%
Eggs
$4.96SEK 48.07
$2.82MX$47.76
75.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.15SEK 137
$9.20MX$156
53.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.41SEK 130
$9.23MX$157
45.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.74SEK 172
$12.64MX$214
40.35%
Apples(1kg)
$3.22SEK 31.19
$2.95MX$50.1
9.15%
Banana(1kg)
$2.70SEK 26.16
$1.58MX$26.79
70.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13SEK 20.60
$2.22MX$37.70
-4.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.94SEK 47.93
$2.36MX$40.09
109.32%
Potato(1kg)
$1.49SEK 14.41
$1.99MX$33.81
-25.13%
Onion(1kg)
$1.84SEK 17.84
$1.98MX$33.58
-7.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.30SEK 22.31
$1.24MX$21.04
85.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.88SEK 18.18
$1.21MX$20.55
55.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34SEK 71.2
$4.60MX$78.1
59.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.38SEK 81.2
$10.52MX$178
-20.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04SEK 19.78
$1.69MX$28.70
20.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27SEK 22.03
$2.77MX$47.06
-18.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Stenungsund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.54SEK 24.65
$0.60MX$10.22
323.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.4SEK 770
$29.70MX$504
167.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$13.32SEK 129
$5.24MX$88.8
154.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05SEK 19.85
$3.65MX$61.9
-43.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$84.3SEK 817
$5.78MX$98.1
1358.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84SEK 17.79
$1.54MX$26.09
19.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6KSEK 335.7K
$22.8KMX$386.8K
51.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5KSEK 334.7K
$25.8KMX$437.9K
33.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stenungsund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$180SEK 1,743
$90.7MX$1,538
98.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.27SEK 264
$25.19MX$427
8.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.86SEK 474
$31.75MX$539
53.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stenungsund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.05SEK 379
$68.8MX$1,167
-43.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.37SEK 256
$29.37MX$498
-10.21%
Cinema Ticket
$16.75SEK 162
$4.86MX$82.5
244.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stenungsund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$223SEK 2,161
$226MX$3,828
-1.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,145SEK 49.9K
$4,194MX$71.1K
22.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stenungsund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104SEK 1,007
$47.38MX$804
119.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.0SEK 533
$43.45MX$737
26.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.4SEK 963
$80.2MX$1,361
23.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$224SEK 2,172
$91.4MX$1,550
145.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stenungsund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$937SEK 9,085
$1,086MX$18.4K
-13.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$532SEK 5,162
$409MX$6,933
30.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,306SEK 12.7K
$1,972MX$33.5K
-33.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,196SEK 11.6K
$1,281MX$21.7K
-6.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,674SEK 35.6K
$4,046MX$68.6K
-9.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,799SEK 27.1K
$6,704MX$113.7K
-58.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stenungsund
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,998SEK 19.4K
$773MX$13.1K
158.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.2
11.45
-72.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stenungsund: September 6, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $937 in Stenungsund versus $1,086 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 158% 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 $67.0 in Stenungsund versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $389 vs $278 – 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 46%, 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 $2,863 per month in Stenungsund and $1,958 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 $1,909 in Stenungsund and $1,305 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 167% 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 $1,305, than in Stenungsund at $1,909. 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