Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Swieqi and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,082 in Swieqi, rent and utilities included – about $10,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Swieqi, Malta
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Swieqi
🇲🇹 Malta
$2,082
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Swieqi 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 Swieqi and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,082 per month in Swieqi vs $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Swieqi $2,082
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

A couple spends around $3,327 per month in Swieqi vs $2,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Swieqi $3,327
  • Playa del Carmen $2,082

A family of three spends $4,571 per month in Swieqi vs $2,959 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Swieqi $4,571
  • Playa del Carmen $2,959

Swieqi costs about 73% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Swieqi sits 53% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 12% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Swieqi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.71 €14.93
$10.92 MX$203
53.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1 €60.8
$43.37 MX$805
57.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.94 €9.77
$11.78 MX$219
-7.13%
Cappuccino
$3.19 €2.85
$3.81 MX$70.7
-16.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 €2.08
$1.28 MX$23.81
82.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 €1.62
$0.78 MX$14.54
133.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.64 €3.25
$3.17 MX$58.8
14.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.44 €3.97
$4.93 MX$91.7
-9.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Swieqi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 €1.21
$1.41 MX$26.12
-3.55%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 €1.29
$2.22 MX$41.17
-34.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.59 €3.20
$1.42 MX$26.32
152.82%
Eggs
$3.19 €2.85
$2.52 MX$46.85
26.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.53 €7.62
$7.26 MX$135
17.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.92 €8.86
$7.70 MX$143
28.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.11 €16.17
$12.69 MX$236
42.71%
Apples (1kg)
$3.86 €3.45
$2.78 MX$51.7
38.85%
Banana (1kg)
$2.26 €2.02
$1.37 MX$25.41
64.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.87 €2.56
$2.55 MX$47.37
12.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.74 €3.34
$2.12 MX$39.43
76.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.95 €1.74
$1.94 MX$36.00
0.52%
Onion (1kg)
$2.45 €2.19
$1.89 MX$35.02
29.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.81 €1.61
$1.15 MX$21.29
57.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89 €0.79
$1.18 MX$21.89
-24.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.35 €5.67
$4.30 MX$79.8
47.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.04 €5.39
$9.95 MX$185
-39.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 €2.20
$1.58 MX$29.41
56.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 €2.07
$2.67 MX$49.60
-13.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Swieqi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.22 €1.99
$0.55 MX$10.28
303.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.72 €13.15
$26.62 MX$494
-44.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.99 €3.57
$4.97 MX$92.3
-19.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.77 €1.58
$3.33 MX$61.9
-46.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.28 €29.72
$5.36 MX$99.5
520.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 €1.30
$1.44 MX$26.82
1.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K €25.4K
$20.7K MX$383.8K
37.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.0K €34.8K
$23.5K MX$435.8K
66.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Swieqi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$121 €108
$84.8 MX$1,575
42.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.20 €19.83
$23.41 MX$435
-5.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.85 €26.66
$28.66 MX$532
4.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Swieqi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$66.6 €59.5
$57.1 MX$1,059
16.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.07 €14.35
$28.91 MX$537
-44.41%
Cinema Ticket
$8.98 €8.02
$5.14 MX$95.4
74.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Swieqi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$221 €197
$207 MX$3,836
6.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.3K €11.0K
$3,927 MX$72.9K
214.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Swieqi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7 €50.6
$43.35 MX$805
30.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.1 €49.23
$41.44 MX$770
33.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 €99.8
$74.2 MX$1,378
50.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 €114
$89.3 MX$1,657
43.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Swieqi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,259 €1,125
$980 MX$18.2K
28.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,076 €961
$381 MX$7,072
182.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,105 €2,774
$1,708 MX$31.7K
81.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,199 €1,965
$1,075 MX$20.0K
104.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,969 €3,545
$3,943 MX$73.2K
0.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,882 €2,574
$6,158 MX$114.4K
-53.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Swieqi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,397 €1,247
$735 MX$13.6K
90.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.01
11.45
-64.98%

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

Last update for Swieqi: October 25, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Swieqi
$1.1K
Playa del Carmen
$381 64.6% $695
Groceries & Markets
Swieqi
$305
Playa del Carmen
$255 16.6% $51
Eating Out
Swieqi
$249
Playa del Carmen
$202 18.6% $46
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Swieqi
$173
Playa del Carmen
$137 21% $36
Clothing & Footwear
Swieqi
$158
Playa del Carmen
$112 29.3% $46
Sport & Entertainment
Swieqi
$85
Playa del Carmen
$67 20.4% $17
Getting Around
Swieqi
$36
Playa del Carmen
$50 38.4% $14

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,259 in Swieqi versus $980 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 90% higher in Swieqi. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $68 in Swieqi versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $255 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇹 Swieqi
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
01:35 1:35 AM
19:35 7:35 PM
6 h behind Swieqi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
14,000
149,923
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 0.893 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 18.57 MXN (100 MXN = 5.38 USD). 1 EUR = 20.81 MXN (100 MXN = 4.8 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Swieqi Playa del Carmen 9,660 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Swieqi
  • 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
Swieqi vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Swieqi?
Yes – Swieqi is pricier by about 73%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,123 per month in Swieqi and $1,806 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $980 there versus $1,259 in Swieqi.
What are total monthly expenses in Swieqi and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,082 in Swieqi and $1,204 in Playa del Carmen. That makes Playa del Carmen about 42% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 45% less in Swieqi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Swieqi or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,204, than in Swieqi at $2,082. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Swieqi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Swieqi 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 the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Swieqi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Swieqi vs other spots: cost of living compared

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