Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Uppsala and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,081 in Uppsala, rent and utilities included – about $10,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Uppsala, Sweden
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Uppsala
🇸🇪 Sweden
$2,081
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,081 per month in Uppsala vs $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Uppsala $2,081
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

A couple spends around $3,256 per month in Uppsala vs $2,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Uppsala $3,256
  • Playa del Carmen $2,082

A family of three spends $4,431 per month in Uppsala vs $2,959 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Uppsala $4,431
  • Playa del Carmen $2,959

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

Uppsala 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
Uppsala
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.88 SEK 145
$10.92 MX$205
36.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.0 SEK 770
$43.37 MX$813
82.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.11 SEK 98.7
$11.78 MX$221
-14.18%
Cappuccino
$4.83 SEK 47.12
$3.81 MX$71.4
26.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 SEK 29.20
$1.28 MX$24.03
133.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 SEK 23.87
$0.78 MX$14.67
214.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.12 SEK 79.2
$3.17 MX$59.3
156.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.25 SEK 100.0
$4.93 MX$92.5
107.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uppsala
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 SEK 17.64
$1.41 MX$26.35
28.37%
White Bread (500g)
$2.86 SEK 27.93
$2.22 MX$41.54
28.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.76 SEK 46.40
$1.42 MX$26.56
235.21%
Eggs
$4.90 SEK 47.80
$2.52 MX$47.27
94.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.96 SEK 97.2
$7.26 MX$136
37.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.63 SEK 143
$7.70 MX$144
90.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.91 SEK 175
$12.69 MX$238
41.13%
Apples (1kg)
$4.05 SEK 39.51
$2.78 MX$52.2
45.68%
Banana (1kg)
$2.75 SEK 26.79
$1.37 MX$25.64
100.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.63 SEK 35.42
$2.55 MX$47.80
42.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.30 SEK 51.7
$2.12 MX$39.78
150.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 SEK 18.53
$1.94 MX$36.32
-2.06%
Onion (1kg)
$1.67 SEK 16.30
$1.89 MX$35.34
-11.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.58 SEK 25.19
$1.15 MX$21.49
124.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 SEK 12.96
$1.18 MX$22.09
12.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.84 SEK 76.5
$4.30 MX$80.5
82.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.17 SEK 99.3
$9.95 MX$186
2.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.41 SEK 23.48
$1.58 MX$29.67
52.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 SEK 25.45
$2.67 MX$50.1
-2.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Uppsala
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.04 SEK 39.46
$0.55 MX$10.37
634.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$112 SEK 1,094
$26.62 MX$499
321.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.44 SEK 53.1
$4.97 MX$93.1
9.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.33 SEK 12.96
$3.33 MX$62.4
-60.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$62.8 SEK 613
$5.36 MX$100
1071.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.80 SEK 17.56
$1.44 MX$27.06
25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6K SEK 317.7K
$20.7K MX$387.3K
57.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K SEK 327.1K
$23.5K MX$439.7K
42.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uppsala
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$110 SEK 1,071
$84.8 MX$1,589
29.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.28 SEK 159
$23.41 MX$439
-30.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.41 SEK 472
$28.66 MX$537
68.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uppsala
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.35 SEK 403
$57.1 MX$1,069
-27.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.71 SEK 231
$28.91 MX$542
-17.99%
Cinema Ticket
$17.96 SEK 175
$5.14 MX$96.3
249.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uppsala
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$126 SEK 1,225
$207 MX$3,871
-39.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$3,927 MX$73.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uppsala
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107 SEK 1,048
$43.35 MX$812
147.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.84 SEK 476
$41.44 MX$777
17.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.6 SEK 942
$74.2 MX$1,390
30.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$205 SEK 1,996
$89.3 MX$1,672
129.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uppsala
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,026 SEK 10.0K
$980 MX$18.4K
4.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$800 SEK 7,809
$381 MX$7,136
110.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,590 SEK 15.5K
$1,708 MX$32.0K
-6.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,435 SEK 14.0K
$1,075 MX$20.1K
33.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,234 SEK 51.1K
$3,943 MX$73.9K
32.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,915 SEK 28.4K
$6,158 MX$115.4K
-52.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uppsala
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,421 SEK 33.4K
$735 MX$13.8K
365.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.09
11.45
-64.28%

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

Last update for Uppsala: October 26, 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
Uppsala
$800
Playa del Carmen
$381 52.4% $420
Groceries & Markets
Uppsala
$393
Playa del Carmen
$255 35.1% $138
Eating Out
Uppsala
$290
Playa del Carmen
$202 30.3% $88
Clothing & Footwear
Uppsala
$206
Playa del Carmen
$112 45.7% $94
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uppsala
$175
Playa del Carmen
$137 21.6% $38
Getting Around
Uppsala
$140
Playa del Carmen
$50 64.1% $90
Sport & Entertainment
Uppsala
$77
Playa del Carmen
$67 12.9% $10

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,026 in Uppsala 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 in Uppsala are about 4.7 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79 in Uppsala versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $393 vs $255 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇸🇪 Uppsala
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
14:11 2:11 PM
08:11 8:11 AM
6 h behind Uppsala
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
166,698
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to SEK – Swedish Krona Converter

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 9.76 SEK (1 SEK = 0.103 USD). 1 EUR = 10.89 SEK (100 SEK = 9.19 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18.74 MXN (100 MXN = 5.34 USD). 1 EUR = 20.91 MXN (100 MXN = 4.78 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Uppsala Playa del Carmen 8,820 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Uppsala
  • 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
Uppsala vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Uppsala?
Yes – Uppsala 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 $3,122 per month in Uppsala and $1,806 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What is the rent difference between Uppsala and Playa del Carmen?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $1,026 in Uppsala and $980 in Playa del Carmen. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
What are total monthly expenses in Uppsala and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,081 in Uppsala 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 76% 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 Uppsala 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 Uppsala at $2,081. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Uppsala it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city suits remote workers better?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,204 versus $2,081 in Uppsala. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
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, Uppsala makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Uppsala vs other spots: cost of living compared

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