Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ystad and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $1,646 in Ystad, rent and utilities included – about $5,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ystad, Sweden
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Ystad
🇸🇪 Sweden
$1,646
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ystad and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ystad and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,646 per month in Ystad vs $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Ystad $1,646
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

A couple spends around $2,592 per month in Ystad vs $2,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Ystad $2,592
  • Playa del Carmen $2,082

A family of three spends $3,538 per month in Ystad vs $2,959 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Ystad $3,538
  • Playa del Carmen $2,959

Ystad costs about 37% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Ystad sits 21% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 12% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ystad
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.15 SEK 119
$10.92 MX$205
11.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.1 SEK 846
$43.37 MX$815
98.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.23 SEK 100
$11.78 MX$221
-13.16%
Cappuccino
$3.06 SEK 30.07
$3.81 MX$71.6
-19.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 SEK 29.27
$1.28 MX$24.10
132.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 SEK 22.27
$0.78 MX$14.71
191.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.99 SEK 68.7
$3.17 MX$59.5
120.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.39 SEK 72.5
$4.93 MX$92.7
49.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ystad
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 SEK 16.75
$1.41 MX$26.43
21.28%
White Bread (500g)
$2.80 SEK 27.49
$2.22 MX$41.66
26.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.15 SEK 30.89
$1.42 MX$26.64
121.83%
Eggs
$3.10 SEK 30.41
$2.52 MX$47.41
23.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.51 SEK 113
$7.26 MX$137
58.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.84 SEK 86.9
$7.70 MX$145
14.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.46 SEK 162
$12.69 MX$239
29.71%
Apples (1kg)
$2.99 SEK 29.37
$2.78 MX$52.3
7.55%
Banana (1kg)
$2.44 SEK 23.99
$1.37 MX$25.71
78.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.93 SEK 28.81
$2.55 MX$47.94
14.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.52 SEK 44.34
$2.12 MX$39.90
113.21%
Potato (1kg)
$1.54 SEK 15.15
$1.94 MX$36.43
-20.62%
Onion (1kg)
$1.70 SEK 16.65
$1.89 MX$35.44
-10.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.96 SEK 19.20
$1.15 MX$21.55
70.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 SEK 16.28
$1.18 MX$22.16
40.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.19 SEK 80.4
$4.30 MX$80.7
90.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.05 SEK 118
$9.95 MX$187
21.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05 SEK 20.12
$1.58 MX$29.76
29.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 SEK 22.43
$2.67 MX$50.2
-14.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Ystad
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.36 SEK 32.97
$0.55 MX$10.40
510.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$79.1 SEK 776
$26.62 MX$500
196.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.05 SEK 59.4
$4.97 MX$93.4
21.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.74 SEK 17.08
$3.33 MX$62.6
-47.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$59.2 SEK 581
$5.36 MX$101
1004.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.77 SEK 17.38
$1.44 MX$27.14
22.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K SEK 293.7K
$20.7K MX$388.4K
44.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3K SEK 327.0K
$23.5K MX$441.0K
41.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ystad
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$105 SEK 1,030
$84.8 MX$1,594
23.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.69 SEK 193
$23.41 MX$440
-15.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.14 SEK 296
$28.66 MX$539
5.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ystad
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.44 SEK 368
$57.1 MX$1,072
-34.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.36 SEK 259
$28.91 MX$543
-8.82%
Cinema Ticket
$12.15 SEK 119
$5.14 MX$96.6
136.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ystad
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$180 SEK 1,766
$207 MX$3,882
-12.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,351 SEK 42.7K
$3,927 MX$73.8K
10.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ystad
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.3 SEK 504
$43.35 MX$815
18.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.38 SEK 328
$41.44 MX$779
-19.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.4 SEK 858
$74.2 MX$1,394
17.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133 SEK 1,311
$89.3 MX$1,677
49.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ystad
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$792 SEK 7,778
$980 MX$18.4K
-19.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$612 SEK 6,014
$381 MX$7,157
60.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,354 SEK 13.3K
$1,708 MX$32.1K
-20.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,023 SEK 10.0K
$1,075 MX$20.2K
-4.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,023 SEK 39.5K
$3,943 MX$74.1K
2.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,767 SEK 27.2K
$6,158 MX$115.7K
-55.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ystad
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,881 SEK 18.5K
$735 MX$13.8K
156.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.06
11.45
-73.28%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ystad: October 25, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ystad
$612
Playa del Carmen
$381 37.8% $232
Groceries & Markets
Ystad
$337
Playa del Carmen
$255 24.3% $82
Eating Out
Ystad
$235
Playa del Carmen
$202 14% $33
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ystad
$155
Playa del Carmen
$137 11.5% $18
Clothing & Footwear
Ystad
$137
Playa del Carmen
$112 18.8% $26
Getting Around
Ystad
$107
Playa del Carmen
$50 53% $57
Sport & Entertainment
Ystad
$62
Playa del Carmen
$67 9% $5.6

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $792 in Ystad versus $980 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 in Ystad are about 2.6 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $86 in Ystad versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $337 vs $255 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇸🇪 Ystad
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
03:17 3:17 AM
21:17 9:17 PM
6 h behind Ystad
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
18,350
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to SEK – Swedish Krona Converter

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 9.82 SEK (1 SEK = 0.102 USD). 1 EUR = 10.96 SEK (100 SEK = 9.12 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18.79 MXN (100 MXN = 5.32 USD). 1 EUR = 20.98 MXN (100 MXN = 4.77 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ystad Playa del Carmen 8,790 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ystad
  • Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Ystad vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Ystad?
Yes – Ystad is pricier by about 37%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,469 per month in Ystad and $1,806 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 Ystad, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $792 there versus $980 in Playa del Carmen.
What are total monthly expenses in Ystad and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,646 in Ystad and $1,204 in Playa del Carmen. That makes Playa del Carmen about 27% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 66% 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 Ystad or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,204, than in Ystad at $1,646. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ystad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is it better to live in Ystad or in Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,204 in Playa del Carmen to $1,646 in Ystad. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ystad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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