Cost of Living

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Live cost-of-living data for Playa del Carmen — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
32/ 10068% cheaper than New York
$1,545/mo
Median Income
65/100
Safety
20%
Income Tax
tropical
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
62/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,050/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$650/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,800/month
Food & Groceries
48/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.1/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$1.8/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$1.5/kg
Transportation
45/100
Monthly Transit Pass$45/month
One-Way Ticket$1.5/trip
Taxi (1 km)$1.2/km
Utilities
42/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$120/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$35/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$25/month
Healthcare
58/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$60/visit
Dentist Visit$75/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$12/course
Education
52/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$450/month
International Primary School (yearly)$10,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$350/course
Entertainment
48/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$10/ticket
Theater Ticket$35/ticket
Museum Entry$12/ticket
Clothing
52/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$60/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$38/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$85/pair
Personal Care
42/100
Haircut (Men)$18/cut
Haircut (Women)$35/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$4.5/bottle
Dining Out
50/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$12/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$50/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$8/meal
Childcare
55/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$700/month
Babysitter (per hour)$12/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$18/pack
Fitness & Sports
48/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$40/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$18/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$7/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

52 Mbps
Internet Speed
$235
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
high
English Level
large
Nomad Community
78/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Centro, Playacar, Coco Beach

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Playa del Carmen cheap to live in?

Playa del Carmen has a cost of living index of 32/100, where New York = 100. It is 68% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $1,160–$1,624 per month.

How much does rent cost in Playa del Carmen?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Playa del Carmen costs approximately $1,050/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $650/month.

Is Playa del Carmen good for digital nomads?

Playa del Carmen has a large digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 52 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $235/month. English proficiency is high.

What is the average salary in Playa del Carmen?

The median net monthly salary in Playa del Carmen is approximately $1,545 USD. The income tax rate is around 20%.

How does Playa del Carmen compare to New York for cost of living?

Playa del Carmen (cost index 32) is 68% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,700/month by moving from New York to Playa del Carmen.

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