😐A single person spends $1,734 per month in Visby vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,769 per month in Visby vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,805 per month in Visby vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Visby costs about 35% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Visby sits 29% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Visby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.54SEK 98.0
$11.94MX$209
-11.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.9SEK 882
$42.75MX$748
121.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.50SEK 88.4
$10.59MX$185
-10.29%
Cappuccino
$3.19SEK 29.70
$3.62MX$63.4
-11.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15SEK 29.29
$1.47MX$25.69
114.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73SEK 25.42
$0.94MX$16.51
190.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.75SEK 72.1
$3.09MX$54.1
150.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.35SEK 40.42
$4.46MX$78.0
-2.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Visby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.61SEK 15.00
$1.43MX$24.94
12.59%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75SEK 25.60
$1.88MX$32.97
46.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.19SEK 29.64
$1.63MX$28.50
95.71%
Eggs
$3.86SEK 35.91
$2.64MX$46.26
46.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.56SEK 98.2
$8.21MX$144
28.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.24SEK 114
$8.29MX$145
47.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.77SEK 175
$11.10MX$194
69.10%
Apples(1kg)
$3.04SEK 28.30
$2.65MX$46.40
14.72%
Banana(1kg)
$2.68SEK 24.95
$1.50MX$26.26
78.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.20SEK 29.76
$1.99MX$34.79
60.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.72SEK 34.61
$2.08MX$36.33
78.85%
Potato(1kg)
$1.88SEK 17.52
$1.79MX$31.29
5.03%
Onion(1kg)
$1.76SEK 16.32
$2.18MX$38.09
-19.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.81SEK 26.15
$1.08MX$18.84
160.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.17SEK 10.89
$1.04MX$18.15
12.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.03SEK 56.1
$3.97MX$69.5
51.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.70SEK 118
$10.20MX$179
24.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35SEK 21.87
$1.73MX$30.22
35.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88SEK 17.45
$2.50MX$43.71
-24.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Visby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.21SEK 29.82
$0.52MX$9.07
517.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.77SEK 463
$26.97MX$472
84.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.78SEK 35.14
$3.14MX$55.0
20.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.19SEK 11.11
$2.40MX$42.04
-50.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$85.2SEK 793
$3.09MX$54.0
2657.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.97SEK 18.30
$1.27MX$22.28
55.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.5KSEK 302.0K
$30.9KMX$540.4K
5.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8KSEK 323.3K
$23.3KMX$408.0K
49.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Visby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$192SEK 1,790
$82.0MX$1,435
134.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.62SEK 266
$22.45MX$393
27.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.33SEK 384
$29.66MX$519
39.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Visby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.61SEK 461
$51.9MX$908
-4.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$41.47SEK 386
$18.67MX$327
122.12%
Cinema Ticket
$14.94SEK 139
$4.97MX$87.0
200.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Visby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$159SEK 1,477
$198MX$3,462
-19.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,167SEK 38.8K
$5,273MX$92.3K
-20.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Visby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.7SEK 890
$36.34MX$636
163.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.64SEK 397
$40.05MX$701
6.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.4SEK 868
$79.9MX$1,398
16.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123SEK 1,142
$88.9MX$1,555
38.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Visby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$754SEK 7,011
$963MX$16.9K
-21.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$590SEK 5,485
$465MX$8,133
26.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,475SEK 13.7K
$1,596MX$27.9K
-7.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,038SEK 9,651
$1,209MX$21.2K
-14.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,886SEK 45.4K
$3,942MX$69.0K
23.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,461SEK 32.2K
$6,448MX$112.8K
-46.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Visby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,672SEK 24.8K
$720MX$12.6K
270.86%
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $754 in Visby versus $963 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 271% 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $359 vs $251 – 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 $2,601 per month in Visby and $1,930 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 $1,734 in Visby and $1,287 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 85% 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 $1,287, than in Visby at $1,734. 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.