πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,088 in Adapazari versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,660 in Adapazari versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,232 in Adapazari versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.
πLiving in Adapazari costs roughly 14% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Adapazari19% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Adapazari
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.42βΊ343
$11.87MX$204
-37.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.77βΊ1,238
$42.90MX$736
-37.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.46βΊ345
$10.65MX$183
-29.95%
Cappuccino
$3.24βΊ150
$3.45MX$59.2
-6.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37βΊ63.3
$1.50MX$25.81
-8.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54βΊ24.99
$0.95MX$16.28
-43.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.81βΊ222
$3.03MX$51.9
58.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.39βΊ295
$4.61MX$79.1
38.61%
π Groceries & Markets
Adapazari
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.79βΊ36.36
$1.38MX$23.61
-42.75%
White Bread(500g)
$0.78βΊ36.08
$1.85MX$31.70
-57.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.79βΊ129
$1.61MX$27.65
73.29%
Eggs
$1.92βΊ89.0
$2.59MX$44.51
-25.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.72βΊ357
$8.26MX$142
-6.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65βΊ169
$8.37MX$144
-56.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.48βΊ716
$10.66MX$183
45.22%
Apples(1kg)
$1.55βΊ71.9
$2.63MX$45.12
-41.06%
Banana(1kg)
$2.72βΊ126
$1.49MX$25.53
82.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.91βΊ41.88
$1.92MX$32.94
-52.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.25βΊ57.7
$2.09MX$35.81
-40.19%
Potato(1kg)
$0.53βΊ24.35
$1.86MX$31.88
-71.51%
Onion(1kg)
$0.59βΊ27.23
$2.26MX$38.81
-73.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85βΊ39.39
$1.06MX$18.23
-19.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57βΊ26.44
$1.09MX$18.67
-47.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22βΊ103
$4.15MX$71.2
-46.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.76βΊ637
$10.39MX$178
32.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.63βΊ122
$1.72MX$29.59
52.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45βΊ160
$2.61MX$44.85
32.18%
π Getting Around
Adapazari
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.63βΊ29.11
$0.54MX$9.30
16.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.07βΊ1,437
$26.94MX$462
15.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.14βΊ99.0
$3.13MX$53.7
-31.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.60βΊ27.82
$2.51MX$43.09
-76.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.41βΊ343
$3.15MX$54.1
135.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.20βΊ55.6
$1.27MX$21.88
-5.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.8KβΊ2.2M
$30.4KMX$521.3K
54.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$48.2KβΊ2.2M
$23.6KMX$404.5K
104.67%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Adapazari
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.87βΊ1,891
$83.0MX$1,425
-50.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.83βΊ686
$22.71MX$390
-34.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.57βΊ535
$29.46MX$506
-60.73%
π Sport & Entertainment
Adapazari
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.34βΊ1,589
$51.0MX$875
-32.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.64βΊ585
$18.33MX$315
-31.04%
Cinema Ticket
$4.76βΊ220
$4.93MX$84.5
-3.45%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Adapazari
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$669βΊ30.9K
$197MX$3,386
239.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,800βΊ360.9K
$5,280MX$90.6K
47.74%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Adapazari
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.1βΊ2,412
$36.90MX$633
41.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$74.9βΊ3,466
$39.89MX$685
87.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113βΊ5,208
$80.0MX$1,373
40.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.6βΊ4,189
$89.5MX$1,536
1.21%
π Accommodation & Living
Adapazari
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$507βΊ23.5K
$956MX$16.4K
-46.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$395βΊ18.3K
$477MX$8,189
-17.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$878βΊ40.6K
$1,646MX$28.3K
-46.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723βΊ33.4K
$1,225MX$21.0K
-40.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,307βΊ60.5K
$3,918MX$67.2K
-66.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$734βΊ34.0K
$6,459MX$110.9K
-88.64%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Adapazari
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$973βΊ45.0K
$667MX$11.4K
45.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
36.83
11.42
222.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Adapazari: June 9, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $507 in Adapazari and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Adapazari pays 46% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
πDining out: $27.00 in Adapazari vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $217 vs $250 per month, with Adapazari cheaper across the board.
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
Adapazari vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Adapazari and Playa del Carmen?
Adapazari and Playa del Carmen differ by about 17% in total monthly costs ($1,088 vs $1,271 including rent). Adapazari is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Adapazari or Playa del Carmen?
Adapazari pays 46% 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 do apartment prices compare in Adapazari and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $507 in Adapazari versus $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Adapazari β a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Adapazari or Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,088 per month in Adapazari versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen β a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,088 in Adapazari versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Adapazari but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Adapazari the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Adapazari and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Adapazari or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Adapazari 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.
Where should expats move: Adapazari or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Adapazari gentler on the wallet β expenses run 17% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.