😐A single person spends $1,750 per month in Visby vs $1,294 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,770 per month in Visby vs $2,189 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,790 per month in Visby vs $3,084 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Visby costs about 35% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Visby sits 31% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Visby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.40SEK 97.3
$11.73MX$202
-11.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$95.8SEK 896
$41.78MX$719
129.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.30SEK 87.0
$10.41MX$179
-10.66%
Cappuccino
$3.20SEK 29.89
$3.61MX$62.1
-11.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21SEK 30.04
$1.46MX$25.06
119.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88SEK 26.98
$0.97MX$16.70
196.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.79SEK 72.8
$2.92MX$50.3
166.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.29SEK 40.14
$4.62MX$79.5
-7.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Visby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.59SEK 14.90
$1.43MX$24.59
11.19%
White Bread(500g)
$2.61SEK 24.42
$1.90MX$32.70
37.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.18SEK 29.73
$1.57MX$26.95
102.55%
Eggs
$3.97SEK 37.18
$2.64MX$45.34
50.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.66SEK 99.7
$8.44MX$145
26.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.15SEK 114
$8.58MX$148
41.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.19SEK 170
$11.00MX$189
65.36%
Apples(1kg)
$3.10SEK 29.02
$2.70MX$46.51
14.81%
Banana(1kg)
$2.57SEK 24.08
$1.51MX$25.92
70.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.20SEK 29.95
$1.91MX$32.93
67.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.64SEK 34.01
$2.17MX$37.37
67.74%
Potato(1kg)
$1.81SEK 16.91
$1.87MX$32.25
-3.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.74SEK 16.24
$2.23MX$38.43
-21.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.92SEK 27.35
$1.08MX$18.60
170.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13SEK 10.54
$1.07MX$18.47
5.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.18SEK 57.8
$4.16MX$71.6
48.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.81SEK 120
$10.29MX$177
24.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.38SEK 22.27
$1.68MX$28.95
41.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83SEK 17.08
$2.53MX$43.59
-27.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Visby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.07SEK 28.75
$0.55MX$9.53
458.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.98SEK 468
$26.29MX$452
90.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.66SEK 34.26
$3.20MX$55.0
14.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.18SEK 11.07
$2.46MX$42.37
-52.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$83.6SEK 782
$3.20MX$55.0
2512.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89SEK 17.71
$1.32MX$22.72
43.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.5KSEK 303.9K
$30.2KMX$518.8K
7.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5KSEK 322.9K
$23.4KMX$402.5K
47.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Visby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$191SEK 1,785
$81.4MX$1,400
134.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.99SEK 271
$22.41MX$386
29.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.04SEK 384
$29.97MX$516
36.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Visby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.40SEK 462
$51.6MX$887
-4.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$42.80SEK 400
$18.39MX$316
132.74%
Cinema Ticket
$14.51SEK 136
$5.16MX$88.9
181.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Visby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$161SEK 1,506
$202MX$3,471
-20.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,061SEK 38.0K
$5,311MX$91.4K
-23.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Visby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.4SEK 883
$35.61MX$613
165.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.47SEK 397
$40.37MX$695
5.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.5SEK 847
$78.6MX$1,353
15.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121SEK 1,136
$86.9MX$1,495
39.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Visby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$767SEK 7,178
$950MX$16.3K
-19.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$580SEK 5,421
$478MX$8,227
21.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,480SEK 13.8K
$1,621MX$27.9K
-8.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,065SEK 9,965
$1,223MX$21.0K
-12.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779SEK 35.3K
$4,009MX$69.0K
-5.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,004SEK 28.1K
$6,473MX$111.4K
-53.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Visby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,714SEK 25.4K
$673MX$11.6K
303.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.87
11.42
-57.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Visby: June 14, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $767 in Visby versus $950 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 303% higher in Visby, 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 $96.0 in Visby versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $355 vs $254 – 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
Visby vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Visby?
Yes – Visby is pricier by about 35%, 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 $2,624 per month in Visby and $1,941 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 Visby vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,750 in Visby and $1,294 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 90% 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 Visby or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,294, than in Visby at $1,750. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Visby it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Visby 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, Visby 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, Visby makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.