๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $986 in Adana versus $1,261 in Playa del Carmen.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,564 in Adana versus $2,130 in Playa del Carmen.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,142 in Adana versus $2,999 in Playa del Carmen.
๐Living in Adana costs roughly 22% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Both cities sit below the global median: Adana26% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Adana
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.42โบ333
$11.67MX$202
-36.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.37โบ1,545
$41.88MX$726
-17.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.40โบ333
$10.40MX$180
-28.85%
Cappuccino
$2.73โบ123
$3.61MX$62.6
-24.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64โบ73.6
$1.47MX$25.45
11.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53โบ23.67
$0.91MX$15.80
-41.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.98โบ179
$3.03MX$52.6
31.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01โบ135
$4.47MX$77.4
-32.66%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Adana
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.85โบ38.34
$1.38MX$23.83
-38.41%
White Bread(500g)
$0.48โบ21.43
$1.84MX$31.93
-73.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.03โบ91.2
$1.61MX$27.82
26.09%
Eggs
$1.76โบ79.1
$2.57MX$44.52
-31.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.82โบ486
$8.49MX$147
27.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.83โบ217
$8.49MX$147
-43.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.10โบ859
$10.99MX$190
73.79%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21โบ54.3
$2.73MX$47.25
-55.68%
Banana(1kg)
$2.07โบ93.1
$1.50MX$25.92
38.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.08โบ48.43
$1.96MX$33.93
-44.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.20โบ53.8
$2.12MX$36.70
-43.40%
Potato(1kg)
$0.74โบ33.27
$1.86MX$32.30
-60.22%
Onion(1kg)
$0.52โบ23.37
$2.17MX$37.67
-76.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.25โบ56.3
$1.07MX$18.59
16.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.22โบ9.73
$1.05MX$18.18
-79.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.13โบ95.6
$4.19MX$72.6
-49.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.54โบ249
$10.28MX$178
-46.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87โบ83.9
$1.67MX$28.87
11.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43โบ109
$2.49MX$43.12
-2.41%
๐ Getting Around
Adana
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.55โบ24.88
$0.54MX$9.37
1.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$50.9โบ2,287
$26.27MX$455
93.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.03โบ46.38
$3.10MX$53.8
-66.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.65โบ29.06
$2.46MX$42.66
-73.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.26โบ461
$3.24MX$56.1
216.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23โบ55.2
$1.26MX$21.83
-2.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.0Kโบ989.3K
$30.2KMX$522.8K
-27.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.2Kโบ2.0M
$23.4KMX$406.3K
88.54%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Adana
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.43โบ1,772
$84.0MX$1,456
-53.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.31โบ419
$22.21MX$385
-58.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.24โบ460
$29.65MX$514
-65.46%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Adana
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.60โบ1,960
$52.6MX$912
-17.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.87โบ1,163
$18.34MX$318
41.06%
Cinema Ticket
$6.90โบ310
$4.95MX$85.7
39.39%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Adana
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,292โบ58.1K
$198MX$3,438
551.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.1Kโบ454.9K
$5,322MX$92.2K
90.17%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Adana
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.47โบ1,684
$35.95MX$623
4.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.0โบ2,247
$40.06MX$694
24.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116โบ5,234
$78.8MX$1,365
47.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126โบ5,674
$86.5MX$1,499
45.90%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Adana
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$427โบ19.2K
$977MX$16.9K
-56.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$288โบ12.9K
$471MX$8,158
-38.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$726โบ32.6K
$1,595MX$27.6K
-54.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$491โบ22.1K
$1,215MX$21.1K
-59.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$768โบ34.5K
$4,032MX$69.9K
-80.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$479โบ21.5K
$6,579MX$114.0K
-92.71%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Adana
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$752โบ33.8K
$714MX$12.4K
5.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
37.2
11.42
225.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Adana: April 20, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $427 in Adana and $977 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐAdana pays 5% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
๐Dining out: $34 in Adana vs $42 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $207 vs $252 per month, with Adana cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated June 2025)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Adana vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Adana or Playa del Carmen?
Adana wins on cost โ living expenses run 28% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Adana the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Adana or Playa del Carmen?
Adana pays 5% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Adana vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $427 in Adana versus $977 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Adana or Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Adana vs Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Adana โ a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Adana or Playa del Carmen?
At $986 in Adana versus $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Adana but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Adana the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Adana or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Adana delivers better value โ similar infrastructure at $986 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Adana hard to pass up.
How safe is Adana compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Adana and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Adana gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 28% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.