Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sundsvall and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,210 a month against $1,696 in Sundsvall, rent and utilities included – about $5,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Sundsvall
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,696
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,210
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sundsvall and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Sundsvall and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,696 per month in Sundsvall vs $1,210 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Sundsvall $1,696
  • Playa del Carmen $1,210

A couple spends around $2,576 per month in Sundsvall vs $2,113 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Sundsvall $2,576
  • Playa del Carmen $2,113

A family of three spends $3,455 per month in Sundsvall vs $3,016 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Sundsvall $3,455
  • Playa del Carmen $3,016

Sundsvall costs about 40% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Sundsvall sits 26% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sundsvall
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.86 SEK 147
$10.76 MX$199
38.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.8 SEK 790
$43.03 MX$795
85.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.94 SEK 108
$11.79 MX$218
-7.21%
Cappuccino
$4.72 SEK 46.78
$3.87 MX$71.4
21.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 SEK 24.18
$1.37 MX$25.29
78.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 SEK 18.22
$0.84 MX$15.44
119.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.43 SEK 83.5
$3.10 MX$57.3
171.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.67 SEK 76.0
$5.07 MX$93.6
51.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sundsvall
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 SEK 14.37
$1.44 MX$26.55
0.69%
White Bread (500g)
$2.94 SEK 29.12
$2.23 MX$41.23
31.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.56 SEK 35.28
$1.47 MX$27.17
142.18%
Eggs
$3.25 SEK 32.23
$2.53 MX$46.71
28.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.42 SEK 93.4
$7.30 MX$135
29.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.62 SEK 95.4
$7.86 MX$145
22.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.05 SEK 169
$12.79 MX$236
33.31%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 SEK 27.05
$2.90 MX$53.6
-5.86%
Banana (1kg)
$2.25 SEK 22.25
$1.44 MX$26.53
56.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 SEK 23.69
$2.55 MX$47.07
-6.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.86 SEK 38.29
$2.06 MX$38.03
87.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.43 SEK 14.17
$2.00 MX$36.97
-28.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 SEK 13.28
$2.01 MX$37.07
-33.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.80 SEK 17.85
$1.19 MX$22.02
51.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 SEK 9.09
$1.26 MX$23.23
-26.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.25 SEK 71.8
$4.40 MX$81.4
64.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.76 SEK 86.8
$9.59 MX$177
-8.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 SEK 16.43
$1.59 MX$29.41
4.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 SEK 12.91
$2.81 MX$51.9
-53.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Sundsvall
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.30 SEK 32.74
$0.57 MX$10.47
478.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$85.1 SEK 843
$27.82 MX$514
205.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.82 SEK 57.7
$4.98 MX$92.1
16.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$6.09 SEK 60.4
$3.50 MX$64.6
74.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$5.40 MX$99.8
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.75 SEK 17.32
$1.47 MX$27.08
19.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7K SEK 304.4K
$21.0K MX$387.8K
46.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1K SEK 298.6K
$23.9K MX$441.8K
26.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sundsvall
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$101 SEK 1,002
$84.2 MX$1,556
20.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.07 SEK 278
$23.99 MX$443
17.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.21 SEK 359
$29.02 MX$536
24.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sundsvall
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.52 SEK 401
$63.0 MX$1,164
-35.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.65 SEK 155
$29.14 MX$539
-46.29%
Cinema Ticket
$13.93 SEK 138
$4.94 MX$91.3
181.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sundsvall
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$134 SEK 1,332
$204 MX$3,763
-33.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$3,941 MX$72.8K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sundsvall
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.4 SEK 916
$43.60 MX$806
112.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.51 SEK 193
$43.12 MX$797
-54.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.2 SEK 656
$75.8 MX$1,400
-12.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 SEK 1,203
$88.6 MX$1,637
37.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sundsvall
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$662 SEK 6,564
$1,008 MX$18.6K
-34.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$602 SEK 5,962
$374 MX$6,911
60.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,171 SEK 11.6K
$1,708 MX$31.6K
-31.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$858 SEK 8,498
$1,106 MX$20.4K
-22.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,349 SEK 23.3K
$3,944 MX$72.9K
-40.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,660 SEK 16.4K
$6,169 MX$114.0K
-73.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sundsvall
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,017 SEK 29.9K
$754 MX$13.9K
300.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.88
11.45
-66.11%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Sundsvall: October 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sundsvall
$602
Playa del Carmen
$374 37.8% $228
Groceries & Markets
Sundsvall
$308
Playa del Carmen
$258 16.2% $50
Eating Out
Sundsvall
$283
Playa del Carmen
$202 28.5% $81
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sundsvall
$165
Playa del Carmen
$137 17% $28
Clothing & Footwear
Sundsvall
$135
Playa del Carmen
$113 16.2% $22
Getting Around
Sundsvall
$135
Playa del Carmen
$53 60.9% $82
Sport & Entertainment
Sundsvall
$68
Playa del Carmen
$73 6.6% $4.5

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $662 in Sundsvall versus $1,008 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 300% higher in Sundsvall, 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 $80.0 in Sundsvall versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $308 vs $258 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇸🇪 Sundsvall
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
09:39 9:39 AM
02:39 2:39 AM
7 h behind Sundsvall
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
57,606
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to SEK – Swedish Krona Converter

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 9.91 SEK (1 SEK = 0.101 USD). 1 EUR = 11.14 SEK (100 SEK = 8.98 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sundsvall Playa del Carmen 8,700 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Sundsvall
  • Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Sundsvall vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Sundsvall?
Yes – Sundsvall is pricier by about 40%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,544 per month in Sundsvall and $1,816 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 Sundsvall and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,696 in Sundsvall and $1,210 in Playa del Carmen. That's a gap of about 40%.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 206% 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 Sundsvall or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,210, than in Sundsvall at $1,696. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sundsvall it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Sundsvall 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, Sundsvall 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, Sundsvall makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Sundsvall vs other spots: cost of living compared

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