😐A single person spends $1,814 per month in Varnamo vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,828 per month in Varnamo vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,842 per month in Varnamo vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Varnamo costs about 41% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Varnamo sits 35% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Varnamo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.57SEK 117
$11.94MX$208
5.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.3SEK 809
$42.75MX$744
104.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.19SEK 113
$10.59MX$184
15.11%
Cappuccino
$5.05SEK 46.78
$3.62MX$63.0
39.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84SEK 26.29
$1.47MX$25.54
93.20%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07SEK 19.21
$0.94MX$16.41
120.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.00SEK 74.2
$3.09MX$53.8
158.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.51SEK 69.6
$4.46MX$77.6
68.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Varnamo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.60SEK 14.85
$1.43MX$24.80
11.89%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13SEK 19.76
$1.88MX$32.79
13.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.94SEK 27.25
$1.63MX$28.34
80.37%
Eggs
$4.44SEK 41.16
$2.64MX$45.99
68.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.16SEK 122
$8.21MX$143
60.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.74SEK 109
$8.29MX$144
41.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.83SEK 156
$11.10MX$193
51.62%
Apples(1kg)
$3.17SEK 29.41
$2.65MX$46.14
19.62%
Banana(1kg)
$2.82SEK 26.15
$1.50MX$26.11
88.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.77SEK 25.67
$1.99MX$34.59
39.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.52SEK 41.94
$2.08MX$36.13
117.31%
Potato(1kg)
$1.69SEK 15.64
$1.79MX$31.11
-5.59%
Onion(1kg)
$1.59SEK 14.78
$2.18MX$37.87
-27.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.66SEK 24.70
$1.08MX$18.73
146.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28SEK 11.85
$1.04MX$18.04
23.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.20SEK 76.0
$3.97MX$69.1
106.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.22SEK 113
$10.20MX$178
19.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02SEK 18.73
$1.73MX$30.04
16.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25SEK 20.84
$2.50MX$43.46
-10.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Varnamo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.48SEK 32.26
$0.52MX$9.02
569.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.7SEK 683
$26.97MX$469
173.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.61SEK 52.0
$3.14MX$54.7
78.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.56SEK 23.70
$2.40MX$41.80
6.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$63.8SEK 591
$3.09MX$53.7
1965.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89SEK 17.55
$1.27MX$22.16
48.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7KSEK 302.8K
$30.9KMX$537.3K
5.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1KSEK 315.8K
$23.3KMX$405.7K
46.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Varnamo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123SEK 1,138
$82.0MX$1,427
49.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.26SEK 271
$22.45MX$391
30.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.11SEK 372
$29.66MX$516
35.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Varnamo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.27SEK 383
$51.9MX$903
-20.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.88SEK 231
$18.67MX$325
33.26%
Cinema Ticket
$17.70SEK 164
$4.97MX$86.5
256.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Varnamo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$179SEK 1,659
$198MX$3,442
-9.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,165SEK 38.6K
$5,273MX$91.7K
-21.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Varnamo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.2SEK 743
$36.34MX$632
120.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.0SEK 566
$40.05MX$697
52.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106SEK 983
$79.9MX$1,390
32.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127SEK 1,177
$88.9MX$1,547
42.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Varnamo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$833SEK 7,718
$963MX$16.8K
-13.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663SEK 6,149
$465MX$8,086
42.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,377SEK 12.8K
$1,596MX$27.8K
-13.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,065SEK 9,870
$1,209MX$21.0K
-11.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,394SEK 40.7K
$3,942MX$68.6K
11.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,014SEK 27.9K
$6,448MX$112.2K
-53.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Varnamo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,169SEK 20.1K
$720MX$12.5K
201.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.8
11.42
-57.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Varnamo: April 26, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $833 in Varnamo versus $963 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 201% higher in Varnamo, 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 $87.0 in Varnamo versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $355 vs $251 – 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
Varnamo vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Varnamo?
Yes – Varnamo is pricier by about 41%, 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 $2,720 per month in Varnamo and $1,930 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 Varnamo vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,814 in Varnamo and $1,287 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 173% 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 Varnamo or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,287, than in Varnamo at $1,814. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Varnamo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Varnamo 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, Varnamo 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, Varnamo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.