😐A single person spends $1,737 per month in Vaxjo vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,640 per month in Vaxjo vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,544 per month in Vaxjo vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Vaxjo costs about 38% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Vaxjo sits 30% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vaxjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.59SEK 122
$11.99MX$209
5.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.0SEK 658
$41.78MX$728
62.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.54SEK 102
$10.75MX$187
-1.95%
Cappuccino
$4.04SEK 39.07
$3.50MX$60.9
15.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27SEK 12.32
$1.45MX$25.22
-12.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29SEK 12.53
$0.88MX$15.41
46.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.32SEK 70.9
$2.95MX$51.3
148.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.00SEK 67.8
$4.51MX$78.6
55.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vaxjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.77SEK 17.14
$1.43MX$24.94
23.78%
White Bread(500g)
$2.37SEK 22.96
$1.84MX$31.99
28.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.06SEK 39.31
$1.57MX$27.31
158.60%
Eggs
$4.02SEK 38.95
$2.51MX$43.74
60.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.82SEK 134
$8.28MX$144
66.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.58SEK 112
$8.43MX$147
37.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.82SEK 134
$10.68MX$186
29.40%
Apples(1kg)
$3.52SEK 34.13
$2.61MX$45.43
34.87%
Banana(1kg)
$2.69SEK 26.07
$1.44MX$25.04
86.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.55SEK 14.97
$1.96MX$34.16
-20.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.67SEK 45.25
$2.09MX$36.47
123.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.57SEK 15.18
$1.85MX$32.24
-15.14%
Onion(1kg)
$2.02SEK 19.60
$2.17MX$37.74
-6.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.78SEK 26.94
$1.03MX$17.96
169.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.69SEK 16.37
$1.07MX$18.70
57.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.17SEK 69.4
$4.10MX$71.4
74.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.43SEK 91.3
$10.17MX$177
-7.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71SEK 16.57
$1.68MX$29.17
1.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95SEK 18.89
$2.53MX$43.98
-22.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Vaxjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.11SEK 30.11
$0.51MX$8.87
509.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$67.3SEK 652
$26.04MX$453
158.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.64SEK 103
$3.23MX$56.3
229.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60SEK 15.46
$2.41MX$41.88
-33.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.41SEK 207
$3.23MX$56.2
562.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.97SEK 19.11
$1.32MX$23.00
49.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6KSEK 315.5K
$29.7KMX$517.1K
9.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1KSEK 301.1K
$23.7KMX$412.0K
31.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vaxjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.5SEK 886
$82.0MX$1,428
11.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.97SEK 271
$22.95MX$400
21.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.21SEK 312
$30.11MX$524
6.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vaxjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.24SEK 380
$52.0MX$905
-24.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.72SEK 249
$18.53MX$323
38.80%
Cinema Ticket
$16.85SEK 163
$4.98MX$86.6
238.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vaxjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$146SEK 1,415
$197MX$3,438
-25.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$731SEK 7,076
$5,336MX$92.9K
-86.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vaxjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107SEK 1,035
$35.60MX$620
200.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.93SEK 251
$40.33MX$702
-35.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101SEK 976
$78.8MX$1,371
28.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142SEK 1,379
$88.9MX$1,549
60.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vaxjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$839SEK 8,121
$947MX$16.5K
-11.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$680SEK 6,583
$474MX$8,254
43.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,593SEK 15.4K
$1,644MX$28.6K
-3.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$991SEK 9,599
$1,211MX$21.1K
-18.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,056MX$70.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,516SEK 24.4K
$6,470MX$112.7K
-61.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vaxjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,239SEK 31.4K
$654MX$11.4K
395.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.53
11.42
-60.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Vaxjo: July 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $839 in Vaxjo 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 395% higher in Vaxjo, 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 $68.0 in Vaxjo versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $349 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
Vaxjo vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Vaxjo?
Yes – Vaxjo is pricier by about 38%, 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 $2,605 per month in Vaxjo 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 Vaxjo and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,737 in Vaxjo 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 158% 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 Vaxjo 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 Vaxjo at $1,737. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vaxjo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Vaxjo 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, Vaxjo 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, Vaxjo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.