Playa del Carmen vs Brisbane

Cost of living comparison for 2026. Playa del Carmen is roughly 11% more affordable than Brisbane (index 32 vs 36, New York = 100). Data sourced live via AI — updated regularly.

Playa del Carmen
More affordable overall
11% cheaper than Brisbane · Cost index: 32 vs 36

Life Power at $3,000/mo

The same salary ranks differently depending on where you live — from Beggar to King.

Soldier
Playa del Carmen
38Soldier
Soldier
Brisbane
31Soldier
Check your own salary's Life Power →

Head-to-Head Stats

Playa del CarmenvsBrisbane
32✓Cost Index36
1,545Median Income /mo5,480✓
65Safety Index78✓
20✓Income Tax %32
52Internet (Mbps)95✓
235✓Coworking /mo350

Price Breakdown

Playa del CarmenCategoryBrisbane
$1,050/month
1-BR Apartment (Center)
8% cheaper →
$1,145/month
$1.1/liter
Meal for One
23% cheaper →
$1.42/liter
$12/meal
Restaurant (Mid-range)
26% cheaper →
$16.25/meal
$45/month
Monthly Transit Pass
7% ← cheaper
$42/month
$120/month
Utilities (Monthly)
27% cheaper →
$165/month
$60/visit
Doctor Visit
8% cheaper →
$65/visit

Digital Nomad Profile

Playa del Carmen

Internet52 Mbps
Coworking$235/mo
Café WiFigood
Englishhigh
Communitylarge
Walkability78/100

Brisbane

Internet95 Mbps
Coworking$350/mo
Café WiFigood
Englishhigh
Communitygrowing
Walkability72/100

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Brisbane?

Playa del Carmen is cheaper than Brisbane. Playa del Carmen has a cost of living index of 32/100 compared to 36/100 for Brisbane (New York = 100), making it roughly 11% more affordable overall.

How much cheaper is Playa del Carmen than Brisbane?

Playa del Carmen is approximately 11% cheaper than Brisbane based on cost index scores (32 vs 36, where New York = 100). A person spending $3,000/month in Brisbane could live a similar lifestyle for roughly $2,677/month in Playa del Carmen.

What is the rent comparison between Playa del Carmen and Brisbane?

In Playa del Carmen, a 1-bedroom apartment in the city center costs approximately $1,050/month. In Brisbane, the equivalent is around $1,145/month.

Which city is better for digital nomads — Playa del Carmen or Brisbane?

Both cities have nomad infrastructure. Playa del Carmen offers 52 Mbps internet and coworking at ~$235/month. Brisbane offers 95 Mbps and coworking at ~$350/month. Playa del Carmen has a cost advantage of 11%.

What is the average income in Playa del Carmen vs Brisbane?

The median net monthly salary in Playa del Carmen is approximately $1,545 USD, compared to $5,480 USD in Brisbane.

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Cities that cost about the same as Playa del Carmen

Same spending tier, different part of the world — the head-to-heads people actually weigh when relocating.

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