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 $1,737 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
$12.59 SEK 122
$11.99 MX$209
5.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.0 SEK 658
$41.78 MX$728
62.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.54 SEK 102
$10.75 MX$187
-1.95%
Cappuccino
$4.04 SEK 39.07
$3.50 MX$60.9
15.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 SEK 12.32
$1.45 MX$25.22
-12.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 SEK 12.53
$0.88 MX$15.41
46.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.32 SEK 70.9
$2.95 MX$51.3
148.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.00 SEK 67.8
$4.51 MX$78.6
55.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vaxjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.77 SEK 17.14
$1.43 MX$24.94
23.78%
White Bread (500g)
$2.37 SEK 22.96
$1.84 MX$31.99
28.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.06 SEK 39.31
$1.57 MX$27.31
158.60%
Eggs
$4.02 SEK 38.95
$2.51 MX$43.74
60.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.82 SEK 134
$8.28 MX$144
66.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.58 SEK 112
$8.43 MX$147
37.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.82 SEK 134
$10.68 MX$186
29.40%
Apples (1kg)
$3.52 SEK 34.13
$2.61 MX$45.43
34.87%
Banana (1kg)
$2.69 SEK 26.07
$1.44 MX$25.04
86.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.55 SEK 14.97
$1.96 MX$34.16
-20.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.67 SEK 45.25
$2.09 MX$36.47
123.44%
Potato (1kg)
$1.57 SEK 15.18
$1.85 MX$32.24
-15.14%
Onion (1kg)
$2.02 SEK 19.60
$2.17 MX$37.74
-6.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 SEK 26.94
$1.03 MX$17.96
169.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 SEK 16.37
$1.07 MX$18.70
57.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.17 SEK 69.4
$4.10 MX$71.4
74.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.43 SEK 91.3
$10.17 MX$177
-7.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 SEK 16.57
$1.68 MX$29.17
1.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 SEK 18.89
$2.53 MX$43.98
-22.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Vaxjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.11 SEK 30.11
$0.51 MX$8.87
509.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.3 SEK 652
$26.04 MX$453
158.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$10.64 SEK 103
$3.23 MX$56.3
229.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.60 SEK 15.46
$2.41 MX$41.88
-33.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.41 SEK 207
$3.23 MX$56.2
562.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.97 SEK 19.11
$1.32 MX$23.00
49.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6K SEK 315.5K
$29.7K MX$517.1K
9.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1K SEK 301.1K
$23.7K MX$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)
$91.5 SEK 886
$82.0 MX$1,428
11.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.97 SEK 271
$22.95 MX$400
21.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.21 SEK 312
$30.11 MX$524
6.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vaxjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.24 SEK 380
$52.0 MX$905
-24.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.72 SEK 249
$18.53 MX$323
38.80%
Cinema Ticket
$16.85 SEK 163
$4.98 MX$86.6
238.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vaxjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$146 SEK 1,415
$197 MX$3,438
-25.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$731 SEK 7,076
$5,336 MX$92.9K
-86.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vaxjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107 SEK 1,035
$35.60 MX$620
200.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.93 SEK 251
$40.33 MX$702
-35.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 SEK 976
$78.8 MX$1,371
28.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 SEK 1,379
$88.9 MX$1,549
60.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vaxjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$839 SEK 8,121
$947 MX$16.5K
-11.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 SEK 6,583
$474 MX$8,254
43.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,593 SEK 15.4K
$1,644 MX$28.6K
-3.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$991 SEK 9,599
$1,211 MX$21.1K
-18.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,056 MX$70.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,516 SEK 24.4K
$6,470 MX$112.7K
-61.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vaxjo
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,239 SEK 31.4K
$654 MX$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.

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