Cost of Living Comparison Between Vaxjo and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Vaxjo and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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