😐A single person spends $1,841 per month in Varnamo vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,819 per month in Varnamo vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,796 per month in Varnamo vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Varnamo costs about 45% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Varnamo sits 37% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Varnamo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.64SEK 119
$11.87MX$204
6.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.6SEK 831
$42.90MX$736
106.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.82SEK 111
$10.65MX$183
10.99%
Cappuccino
$4.89SEK 45.83
$3.45MX$59.2
41.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90SEK 27.24
$1.50MX$25.81
93.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14SEK 20.08
$0.95MX$16.28
125.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.11SEK 76.1
$3.03MX$51.9
167.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.21SEK 67.6
$4.61MX$79.1
56.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Varnamo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.61SEK 15.06
$1.38MX$23.61
16.67%
White Bread(500g)
$2.21SEK 20.77
$1.85MX$31.70
19.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.96SEK 27.79
$1.61MX$27.65
83.85%
Eggs
$4.44SEK 41.61
$2.59MX$44.51
71.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.09SEK 123
$8.26MX$142
58.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.54SEK 108
$8.37MX$144
37.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.41SEK 163
$10.66MX$183
63.32%
Apples(1kg)
$3.17SEK 29.70
$2.63MX$45.12
20.53%
Banana(1kg)
$2.89SEK 27.10
$1.49MX$25.53
93.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.82SEK 26.47
$1.92MX$32.94
46.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.31SEK 40.44
$2.09MX$35.81
106.22%
Potato(1kg)
$1.67SEK 15.71
$1.86MX$31.88
-10.22%
Onion(1kg)
$1.58SEK 14.86
$2.26MX$38.81
-30.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.64SEK 24.78
$1.06MX$18.23
149.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28SEK 12.02
$1.09MX$18.67
17.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.86SEK 73.7
$4.15MX$71.2
89.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.90SEK 112
$10.39MX$178
14.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.94SEK 18.22
$1.72MX$29.59
12.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22SEK 20.81
$2.61MX$44.85
-14.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Varnamo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.29SEK 30.82
$0.54MX$9.30
509.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.2SEK 687
$26.94MX$462
171.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.66SEK 53.1
$3.13MX$53.7
80.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.57SEK 24.09
$2.51MX$43.09
2.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$62.9SEK 590
$3.15MX$54.1
1897.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.95SEK 18.25
$1.27MX$21.88
53.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2KSEK 311.5K
$30.4KMX$521.3K
9.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1KSEK 319.6K
$23.6KMX$404.5K
44.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Varnamo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122SEK 1,143
$83.0MX$1,425
46.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.28SEK 265
$22.71MX$390
24.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.20SEK 387
$29.46MX$506
39.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Varnamo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.64SEK 381
$51.0MX$875
-20.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.11SEK 236
$18.33MX$315
36.99%
Cinema Ticket
$17.74SEK 166
$4.93MX$84.5
259.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Varnamo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$174SEK 1,635
$197MX$3,386
-11.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,125SEK 38.7K
$5,280MX$90.6K
-21.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Varnamo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.6SEK 737
$36.90MX$633
112.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.7SEK 569
$39.89MX$685
52.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104SEK 977
$80.0MX$1,373
30.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131SEK 1,225
$89.5MX$1,536
46.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Varnamo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$852SEK 7,988
$956MX$16.4K
-10.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$645SEK 6,047
$477MX$8,189
35.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,375SEK 12.9K
$1,646MX$28.3K
-16.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,070SEK 10.0K
$1,225MX$21.0K
-12.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,312SEK 40.4K
$3,918MX$67.2K
10.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,016SEK 28.3K
$6,459MX$110.9K
-53.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Varnamo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,115SEK 19.8K
$667MX$11.4K
217.10%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $852 in Varnamo versus $956 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 217% 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 $89.0 in Varnamo versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $355 vs $250 – 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 45%, 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 $2,762 per month in Varnamo and $1,906 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 $1,841 in Varnamo and $1,271 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 172% 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 $1,271, than in Varnamo at $1,841. 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.