😐A single person spends $1,732 per month in Ystad vs $1,294 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,721 per month in Ystad vs $2,189 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,709 per month in Ystad vs $3,084 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Ystad costs about 34% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Ystad sits 30% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ystad
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.78SEK 110
$11.73MX$202
0.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.0SEK 870
$41.78MX$719
122.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.72SEK 100
$10.41MX$179
2.98%
Cappuccino
$4.16SEK 38.92
$3.61MX$62.1
15.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02SEK 28.21
$1.46MX$25.06
106.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57SEK 24.01
$0.97MX$16.70
164.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.23SEK 58.3
$2.92MX$50.3
113.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.75SEK 72.5
$4.62MX$79.5
67.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ystad
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.69SEK 15.78
$1.43MX$24.59
18.18%
White Bread(500g)
$2.89SEK 27.03
$1.90MX$32.70
52.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.27SEK 30.56
$1.57MX$26.95
108.28%
Eggs
$3.20SEK 29.90
$2.64MX$45.34
21.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.81SEK 110
$8.44MX$145
39.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.68SEK 90.6
$8.58MX$148
12.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.73SEK 175
$11.00MX$189
70.27%
Apples(1kg)
$3.17SEK 29.62
$2.70MX$46.51
17.41%
Banana(1kg)
$2.76SEK 25.77
$1.51MX$25.92
82.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.04SEK 28.48
$1.91MX$32.93
59.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.34SEK 40.63
$2.17MX$37.37
100.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.73SEK 16.22
$1.87MX$32.25
-7.49%
Onion(1kg)
$1.93SEK 18.10
$2.23MX$38.43
-13.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.22SEK 20.75
$1.08MX$18.60
105.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.61SEK 15.03
$1.07MX$18.47
50.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.14SEK 76.2
$4.16MX$71.6
95.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.85SEK 120
$10.29MX$177
24.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.18SEK 20.42
$1.68MX$28.95
29.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51SEK 23.52
$2.53MX$43.59
-0.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Ystad
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.36SEK 31.46
$0.55MX$9.53
510.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.0SEK 683
$26.29MX$452
177.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.22SEK 95.6
$3.20MX$55.0
219.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.66SEK 15.51
$2.46MX$42.37
-32.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.8SEK 578
$3.20MX$55.0
1829.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89SEK 17.66
$1.32MX$22.72
43.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.7KSEK 240.7K
$30.2KMX$518.8K
-14.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6KSEK 277.1K
$23.4KMX$402.5K
26.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ystad
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123SEK 1,146
$81.4MX$1,400
50.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.34SEK 200
$22.41MX$386
-4.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.03SEK 300
$29.97MX$516
6.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ystad
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.41SEK 378
$51.6MX$887
-21.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.09SEK 235
$18.39MX$316
36.43%
Cinema Ticket
$12.90SEK 121
$5.16MX$88.9
150.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ystad
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$173SEK 1,618
$202MX$3,471
-14.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,208SEK 39.4K
$5,311MX$91.4K
-20.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ystad
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.2SEK 498
$35.61MX$613
49.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.09SEK 366
$40.37MX$695
-3.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.9SEK 897
$78.6MX$1,353
21.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$155SEK 1,452
$86.9MX$1,495
78.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ystad
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$831SEK 7,776
$950MX$16.3K
-12.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$643SEK 6,017
$478MX$8,227
34.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,403SEK 13.1K
$1,621MX$27.9K
-13.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,096SEK 10.3K
$1,223MX$21.0K
-10.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,236SEK 39.6K
$4,009MX$69.0K
5.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,988SEK 28.0K
$6,473MX$111.4K
-53.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ystad
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,928SEK 18.0K
$673MX$11.6K
186.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
11.42
-64.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ystad: June 16, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $831 in Ystad 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 187% higher in Ystad, 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 $93.0 in Ystad versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $357 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
Ystad vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Ystad?
Yes – Ystad is pricier by about 34%, 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 $2,598 per month in Ystad 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 Ystad vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,732 in Ystad 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 178% 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 Ystad 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 Ystad at $1,732. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ystad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ystad 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, Ystad 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, Ystad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.