😐A single person spends $1,614 per month in Trollhattan vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,485 per month in Trollhattan vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,355 per month in Trollhattan vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Trollhattan costs about 25% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Trollhattan sits 17% 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
$12.53SEK 119
$11.71MX$198
7.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$83.6SEK 797
$46.59MX$788
79.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.76SEK 112
$11.65MX$197
0.94%
Cappuccino
$2.58SEK 24.58
$4.09MX$69.2
-36.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34SEK 12.82
$1.37MX$23.23
-2.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38SEK 13.21
$0.83MX$14.09
66.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.96SEK 75.9
$3.35MX$56.7
137.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.60SEK 72.4
$6.91MX$117
9.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Trollhattan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37SEK 13.09
$1.73MX$29.20
-20.81%
White Bread(500g)
$2.27SEK 21.66
$2.26MX$38.21
0.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.68SEK 25.56
$1.77MX$29.91
51.41%
Eggs
$3.92SEK 37.35
$2.73MX$46.19
43.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.87SEK 94.1
$9.18MX$155
7.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.47SEK 90.3
$8.92MX$151
6.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.49SEK 148
$12.60MX$213
22.94%
Apples(1kg)
$1.33SEK 12.69
$3.02MX$51.1
-55.96%
Banana(1kg)
$2.53SEK 24.08
$1.57MX$26.55
61.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.86SEK 27.30
$2.13MX$35.93
34.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.37SEK 22.57
$2.26MX$38.28
4.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53SEK 14.56
$2.00MX$33.88
-23.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.28SEK 12.19
$2.06MX$34.90
-37.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.04SEK 19.45
$1.18MX$19.94
72.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12SEK 10.68
$1.20MX$20.35
-6.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.72SEK 73.6
$4.63MX$78.4
66.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.55SEK 81.5
$10.69MX$181
-20.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47SEK 14.02
$1.62MX$27.38
-9.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95SEK 18.56
$2.88MX$48.70
-32.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Trollhattan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.80SEK 36.19
$0.57MX$9.69
566.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$82.2SEK 784
$29.83MX$504
175.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.71SEK 35.42
$5.45MX$92.1
-31.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.87SEK 17.79
$3.70MX$62.6
-49.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$57.2SEK 545
$5.98MX$101
855.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.86SEK 17.76
$1.55MX$26.26
20.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8KSEK 322.0K
$22.3KMX$377.4K
51.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8KSEK 322.3K
$25.9KMX$438.7K
30.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Trollhattan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$186SEK 1,778
$89.1MX$1,507
109.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.76SEK 227
$25.04MX$423
-5.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.24SEK 346
$31.50MX$532
15.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Trollhattan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.47SEK 338
$67.8MX$1,146
-47.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.60SEK 330
$28.92MX$489
19.64%
Cinema Ticket
$15.18SEK 145
$5.05MX$85.4
200.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Trollhattan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$157SEK 1,499
$225MX$3,803
-30.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,263SEK 50.2K
$4,222MX$71.4K
24.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Trollhattan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101SEK 961
$47.44MX$802
112.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.62SEK 397
$44.98MX$760
-7.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.5SEK 882
$82.0MX$1,386
12.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.2SEK 908
$92.1MX$1,557
3.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Trollhattan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$657SEK 6,267
$1,069MX$18.1K
-38.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$518SEK 4,940
$405MX$6,852
27.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,075SEK 10.2K
$1,935MX$32.7K
-44.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$820SEK 7,817
$1,301MX$22.0K
-36.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,085SEK 29.4K
$3,995MX$67.5K
-22.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,588SEK 24.7K
$6,626MX$112.0K
-60.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Trollhattan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,311SEK 31.6K
$749MX$12.7K
342.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.53
11.45
-69.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Trollhattan: August 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $657 in Trollhattan versus $1,069 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 342% 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 $84.0 in Trollhattan versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $277 – 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 25%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $2,422 per month in Trollhattan and $1,940 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 $1,614 in Trollhattan and $1,293 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 176% 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 $1,293, than in Trollhattan at $1,614. 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