😐A single person spends $1,809 per month in Visby vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,790 per month in Visby vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,771 per month in Visby vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Visby costs about 43% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Visby sits 32% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Visby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.09SEK 129
$11.60MX$200
12.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.5SEK 833
$47.11MX$812
79.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.33SEK 92.0
$11.88MX$205
-21.46%
Cappuccino
$4.04SEK 39.79
$3.98MX$68.6
1.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46SEK 24.25
$1.43MX$24.60
72.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58SEK 25.47
$0.82MX$14.22
214.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.73SEK 76.2
$3.19MX$55.0
142.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.09SEK 40.33
$6.79MX$117
-39.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Visby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.50SEK 14.79
$1.68MX$28.89
-10.71%
White Bread(500g)
$3.18SEK 31.33
$2.20MX$37.88
44.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.22SEK 31.72
$1.71MX$29.45
88.30%
Eggs
$4.17SEK 41.10
$2.74MX$47.26
52.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.22SEK 101
$9.58MX$165
6.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.14SEK 120
$9.01MX$155
34.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.40SEK 162
$12.81MX$221
28.02%
Apples(1kg)
$3.07SEK 30.23
$2.89MX$49.81
6.23%
Banana(1kg)
$2.64SEK 26.04
$1.50MX$25.81
76.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.16SEK 31.13
$2.15MX$37.03
46.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.16SEK 40.99
$2.26MX$38.96
84.07%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79SEK 17.67
$1.98MX$34.15
-9.60%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81SEK 17.85
$1.99MX$34.30
-9.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.32SEK 22.87
$1.23MX$21.28
88.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05SEK 10.39
$1.20MX$20.63
-12.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.25SEK 51.8
$4.55MX$78.5
15.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.47SEK 123
$10.37MX$179
20.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.32SEK 22.83
$1.62MX$27.91
43.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60SEK 15.75
$2.88MX$49.67
-44.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Visby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.21SEK 31.65
$0.60MX$10.35
435.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$81.3SEK 801
$28.80MX$497
182.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.62SEK 35.70
$5.39MX$92.9
-32.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.84SEK 27.99
$3.73MX$64.3
-23.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$82.7SEK 815
$5.77MX$99.5
1332.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89SEK 18.64
$1.54MX$26.48
22.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4KSEK 339.0K
$22.5KMX$388.8K
52.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KSEK 338.6K
$26.1KMX$449.3K
31.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Visby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189SEK 1,864
$91.4MX$1,576
107.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.02SEK 227
$25.20MX$435
-8.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.83SEK 442
$31.24MX$539
43.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Visby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.54SEK 390
$67.2MX$1,159
-41.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.38SEK 260
$29.11MX$502
-9.38%
Cinema Ticket
$14.39SEK 142
$4.86MX$83.8
196.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Visby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$154SEK 1,522
$224MX$3,856
-30.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,200SEK 51.2K
$4,229MX$72.9K
22.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Visby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106SEK 1,046
$47.10MX$812
125.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.39SEK 408
$44.29MX$764
-6.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.6SEK 902
$80.1MX$1,381
14.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$143SEK 1,414
$92.7MX$1,598
54.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Visby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$750SEK 7,388
$1,063MX$18.3K
-29.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$573SEK 5,647
$390MX$6,728
46.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,407SEK 13.9K
$2,149MX$37.1K
-34.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,060SEK 10.4K
$1,272MX$21.9K
-16.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,189SEK 41.3K
$4,001MX$69.0K
4.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,969SEK 29.3K
$6,502MX$112.1K
-54.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Visby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,555SEK 25.2K
$758MX$13.1K
236.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.53
11.45
-69.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Visby: September 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $750 in Visby 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 237% 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 $85.0 in Visby versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 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
Visby vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Visby?
Yes – Visby is pricier by about 43%, 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 $2,714 per month in Visby 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 Visby and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,809 in Visby 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 182% 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 Visby 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 Visby at $1,809. 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.