😐A single person spends $1,695 per month in Vaxjo vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,576 per month in Vaxjo vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,457 per month in Vaxjo vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Vaxjo costs about 34% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Vaxjo sits 24% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vaxjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.66SEK 135
$11.60MX$200
17.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.4SEK 644
$47.11MX$812
38.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.30SEK 101
$11.88MX$205
-13.30%
Cappuccino
$4.09SEK 40.31
$3.98MX$68.6
2.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55SEK 15.24
$1.43MX$24.60
8.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38SEK 13.62
$0.82MX$14.22
68.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.25SEK 71.4
$3.19MX$55.0
127.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.77SEK 66.7
$6.79MX$117
-0.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vaxjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.81SEK 17.82
$1.68MX$28.89
7.74%
White Bread(500g)
$2.47SEK 24.36
$2.20MX$37.88
12.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.07SEK 40.09
$1.71MX$29.45
138.01%
Eggs
$4.69SEK 46.21
$2.74MX$47.26
71.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.55SEK 134
$9.58MX$165
41.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.88SEK 107
$9.01MX$155
20.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.15SEK 120
$12.81MX$221
-5.15%
Apples(1kg)
$3.17SEK 31.28
$2.89MX$49.81
9.69%
Banana(1kg)
$2.10SEK 20.74
$1.50MX$25.81
40.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.10SEK 20.66
$2.15MX$37.03
-2.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.66SEK 45.89
$2.26MX$38.96
106.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.46SEK 14.38
$1.98MX$34.15
-26.26%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63SEK 16.04
$1.99MX$34.30
-18.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.38SEK 23.44
$1.23MX$21.28
93.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.41SEK 13.92
$1.20MX$20.63
17.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.35SEK 72.4
$4.55MX$78.5
61.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.85SEK 77.4
$10.37MX$179
-24.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02SEK 19.88
$1.62MX$27.91
24.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68SEK 16.56
$2.88MX$49.67
-41.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Vaxjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.10SEK 30.58
$0.60MX$10.35
416.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.5SEK 646
$28.80MX$497
127.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.12SEK 80.0
$5.39MX$92.9
50.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07SEK 20.42
$3.73MX$64.3
-44.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$83.2SEK 820
$5.77MX$99.5
1342.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.80SEK 17.70
$1.54MX$26.48
16.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4KSEK 339.3K
$22.5KMX$388.8K
52.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5KSEK 330.1K
$26.1KMX$449.3K
28.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vaxjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$92.2SEK 909
$91.4MX$1,576
0.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.17SEK 307
$25.20MX$435
23.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.30SEK 308
$31.24MX$539
0.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vaxjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.43SEK 349
$67.2MX$1,159
-47.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.21SEK 199
$29.11MX$502
-30.57%
Cinema Ticket
$16.47SEK 162
$4.86MX$83.8
238.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vaxjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$155SEK 1,530
$224MX$3,856
-30.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$4,229MX$72.9K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vaxjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101SEK 998
$47.10MX$812
115.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.63SEK 302
$44.29MX$764
-30.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.3SEK 702
$80.1MX$1,381
-11.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5SEK 872
$92.7MX$1,598
-4.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vaxjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$819SEK 8,075
$1,063MX$18.3K
-22.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$656SEK 6,464
$390MX$6,728
68.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,528SEK 15.1K
$2,149MX$37.1K
-28.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$967SEK 9,527
$1,272MX$21.9K
-24.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,001MX$69.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,500SEK 24.6K
$6,502MX$112.1K
-61.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vaxjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,260SEK 32.1K
$758MX$13.1K
329.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.2
11.45
-72.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Vaxjo: September 12, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $819 in Vaxjo versus $1,063 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 330% 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 $65.0 in Vaxjo versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $333 vs $276 – 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 34%, 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 $2,543 per month in Vaxjo and $1,899 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 $1,695 in Vaxjo and $1,266 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 128% 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 $1,266, than in Vaxjo at $1,695. 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.