😐A single person spends $1,621 per month in Trollhattan vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,542 per month in Trollhattan vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,462 per month in Trollhattan vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Trollhattan costs about 29% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Trollhattan sits 21% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Trollhattan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.89SEK 115
$11.99MX$209
-0.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$83.5SEK 808
$41.78MX$728
99.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.66SEK 103
$10.75MX$187
-0.84%
Cappuccino
$3.70SEK 35.86
$3.50MX$60.9
5.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35SEK 13.10
$1.45MX$25.22
-6.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35SEK 13.08
$0.88MX$15.41
53.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.87SEK 76.2
$2.95MX$51.3
166.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.68SEK 74.3
$4.51MX$78.6
70.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Trollhattan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.60SEK 15.53
$1.43MX$24.94
11.89%
White Bread(500g)
$2.34SEK 22.69
$1.84MX$31.99
27.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.81SEK 36.87
$1.57MX$27.31
142.68%
Eggs
$3.96SEK 38.37
$2.51MX$43.74
57.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.88SEK 115
$8.28MX$144
43.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.68SEK 93.7
$8.43MX$147
14.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.68SEK 142
$10.68MX$186
37.45%
Apples(1kg)
$3.25SEK 31.44
$2.61MX$45.43
24.52%
Banana(1kg)
$2.57SEK 24.93
$1.44MX$25.04
78.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.48SEK 33.65
$1.96MX$34.16
77.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.60SEK 34.90
$2.09MX$36.47
72.25%
Potato(1kg)
$2.15SEK 20.85
$1.85MX$32.24
16.22%
Onion(1kg)
$1.93SEK 18.68
$2.17MX$37.74
-11.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.79SEK 27.06
$1.03MX$17.96
170.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.91SEK 18.50
$1.07MX$18.70
78.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.80SEK 75.6
$4.10MX$71.4
90.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.33SEK 80.6
$10.17MX$177
-18.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.24SEK 12.04
$1.68MX$29.17
-26.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70SEK 16.50
$2.53MX$43.98
-32.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Trollhattan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.35SEK 32.43
$0.51MX$8.87
556.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$74.7SEK 723
$26.04MX$453
186.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.61SEK 34.94
$3.23MX$56.3
11.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.64SEK 25.52
$2.41MX$41.88
9.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$42.80SEK 414
$3.23MX$56.2
1225.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.91SEK 18.49
$1.32MX$23.00
44.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0KSEK 309.6K
$29.7KMX$517.1K
7.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.0KSEK 329.6K
$23.7KMX$412.0K
43.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Trollhattan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$193SEK 1,867
$82.0MX$1,428
135.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.02SEK 281
$22.95MX$400
26.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24SEK 303
$30.11MX$524
3.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Trollhattan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.93SEK 387
$52.0MX$905
-23.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.30SEK 245
$18.53MX$323
36.54%
Cinema Ticket
$14.73SEK 143
$4.98MX$86.6
195.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Trollhattan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$159SEK 1,542
$197MX$3,438
-19.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,427SEK 13.8K
$5,336MX$92.9K
-73.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Trollhattan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.2SEK 806
$35.60MX$620
133.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.87SEK 309
$40.33MX$702
-20.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.8SEK 801
$78.8MX$1,371
5.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124SEK 1,202
$88.9MX$1,549
39.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Trollhattan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$641SEK 6,208
$947MX$16.5K
-32.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$483SEK 4,678
$474MX$8,254
1.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,101SEK 10.7K
$1,644MX$28.6K
-33.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$813SEK 7,871
$1,211MX$21.1K
-32.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,985SEK 28.9K
$4,056MX$70.6K
-26.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,580SEK 25.0K
$6,470MX$112.7K
-60.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Trollhattan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,206SEK 31.0K
$654MX$11.4K
390.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.2
11.42
-63.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Trollhattan: July 14, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $641 in Trollhattan versus $947 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 390% higher in Trollhattan, 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 $83.0 in Trollhattan versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $333 vs $249 – 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
Trollhattan vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Trollhattan?
Yes – Trollhattan is pricier by about 29%, 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 $2,431 per month in Trollhattan and $1,884 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 Trollhattan and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,621 in Trollhattan and $1,256 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 187% 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 Trollhattan or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Trollhattan at $1,621. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Trollhattan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Trollhattan 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, Trollhattan 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, Trollhattan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Trollhattan vs other spots: cost of living compared