😐A single person spends $1,743 per month in Visby vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,773 per month in Visby vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,804 per month in Visby vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Visby costs about 38% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Visby sits 31% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Visby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.48SEK 99.6
$11.72MX$203
-10.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$95.0SEK 902
$41.89MX$725
126.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.28SEK 88.2
$10.51MX$182
-11.70%
Cappuccino
$3.02SEK 28.72
$3.59MX$62.0
-15.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24SEK 30.74
$1.51MX$26.10
114.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74SEK 26.07
$0.92MX$15.83
197.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.63SEK 72.5
$2.96MX$51.2
157.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.17SEK 39.64
$4.41MX$76.3
-5.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Visby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.54SEK 14.61
$1.40MX$24.16
10.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72SEK 25.87
$1.88MX$32.60
44.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.18SEK 30.19
$1.56MX$26.97
103.85%
Eggs
$4.03SEK 38.24
$2.61MX$45.14
54.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.75SEK 102
$8.32MX$144
29.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.10SEK 115
$8.35MX$145
44.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.87SEK 179
$10.86MX$188
73.76%
Apples(1kg)
$3.13SEK 29.71
$2.71MX$46.93
15.50%
Banana(1kg)
$2.58SEK 24.54
$1.51MX$26.04
70.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.11SEK 29.56
$1.87MX$32.41
66.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.72SEK 35.35
$2.19MX$37.89
69.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.81SEK 17.15
$1.86MX$32.14
-2.69%
Onion(1kg)
$1.74SEK 16.55
$2.23MX$38.59
-21.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.93SEK 27.86
$1.07MX$18.48
173.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19SEK 11.27
$1.09MX$18.79
9.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.95SEK 56.6
$4.19MX$72.4
42.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.24SEK 116
$10.43MX$180
17.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.36SEK 22.39
$1.66MX$28.68
42.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88SEK 17.89
$2.61MX$45.19
-27.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Visby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.22SEK 30.63
$0.54MX$9.37
496.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.23SEK 468
$26.16MX$453
88.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.66SEK 34.74
$3.08MX$53.3
18.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.19SEK 11.28
$2.40MX$41.61
-50.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$86.0SEK 817
$3.13MX$54.1
2648.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90SEK 18.04
$1.31MX$22.69
45.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4KSEK 307.7K
$29.8KMX$515.7K
8.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8KSEK 330.6K
$23.3KMX$403.5K
49.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Visby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$190SEK 1,807
$81.3MX$1,406
133.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.67SEK 272
$22.56MX$390
27.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.87SEK 398
$30.05MX$520
39.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Visby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.15SEK 457
$52.9MX$915
-9.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.52SEK 394
$18.39MX$318
125.77%
Cinema Ticket
$14.92SEK 142
$4.92MX$85.1
203.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Visby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$159SEK 1,508
$201MX$3,474
-20.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,205SEK 39.9K
$5,175MX$89.5K
-18.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Visby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.2SEK 914
$35.92MX$622
167.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.03SEK 409
$40.13MX$694
7.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.2SEK 885
$79.7MX$1,379
16.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121SEK 1,151
$86.5MX$1,496
40.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Visby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$764SEK 7,261
$978MX$16.9K
-21.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$584SEK 5,546
$470MX$8,140
24.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,465SEK 13.9K
$1,651MX$28.6K
-11.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,046SEK 9,937
$1,203MX$20.8K
-13.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,341SEK 41.2K
$3,953MX$68.4K
9.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,097SEK 29.4K
$6,607MX$114.3K
-53.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Visby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,535SEK 24.1K
$677MX$11.7K
274.61%
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: July 25, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $764 in Visby versus $978 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 275% 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 $95.0 in Visby versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $358 vs $252 – 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 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 $2,614 per month in Visby and $1,890 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 $1,743 in Visby and $1,260 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 88% 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 $1,260, than in Visby at $1,743. 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.