🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $770 in Adzope versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,286 in Adzope versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,802 in Adzope versus $3,362 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Adzope costs roughly 41% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Adzope44% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Adzope
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.70F CFA 1,527
$11.96MX$203
-77.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.8F CFA 40.0K
$47.38MX$804
49.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65F CFA 6,019
$11.75MX$199
-9.36%
Cappuccino
$1.98F CFA 1,119
$4.12MX$70.0
-51.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81F CFA 460
$1.40MX$23.74
-42.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78F CFA 441
$0.91MX$15.48
-14.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.08F CFA 608
$3.21MX$54.4
-66.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73F CFA 978
$7.07MX$120
-75.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Adzope
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.90F CFA 1,073
$1.68MX$28.44
13.10%
White Bread(500g)
$0.52F CFA 294
$2.15MX$36.48
-75.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.25F CFA 706
$1.77MX$30.10
-29.38%
Eggs
$2.38F CFA 1,343
$2.82MX$47.76
-15.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$21.72F CFA 12.3K
$9.20MX$156
136.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.57F CFA 3,710
$9.23MX$157
-28.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.05F CFA 3,417
$12.64MX$214
-52.14%
Apples(1kg)
$4.09F CFA 2,313
$2.95MX$50.1
38.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.16F CFA 657
$1.58MX$26.79
-26.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25F CFA 1,269
$2.22MX$37.70
1.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47F CFA 1,395
$2.36MX$40.09
4.66%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86F CFA 1,049
$1.99MX$33.81
-6.53%
Onion(1kg)
$1.82F CFA 1,030
$1.98MX$33.58
-8.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.87F CFA 494
$1.24MX$21.04
-29.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82F CFA 461
$1.21MX$20.55
-32.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.76F CFA 992
$4.60MX$78.1
-61.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.27F CFA 3,543
$10.52MX$178
-40.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11F CFA 628
$1.69MX$28.70
-34.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42F CFA 801
$2.77MX$47.06
-48.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Adzope
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.60MX$10.22
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$29.70MX$504
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.80F CFA 1,018
$5.24MX$88.8
-65.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.75F CFA 989
$3.65MX$61.9
-52.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.53F CFA 15.0K
$5.78MX$98.1
359.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.50F CFA 849
$1.54MX$26.09
-2.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2KF CFA 16.5M
$22.8KMX$386.8K
28.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0KF CFA 15.8M
$25.8KMX$437.9K
8.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Adzope
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187F CFA 105.4K
$90.7MX$1,538
105.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.27F CFA 16.0K
$25.19MX$427
12.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.35F CFA 19.4K
$31.75MX$539
8.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Adzope
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$68.8MX$1,167
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.37MX$498
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.90F CFA 5,029
$4.86MX$82.5
83.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Adzope
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$372F CFA 210.0K
$226MX$3,828
64.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,799F CFA 2.7M
$4,194MX$71.1K
14.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Adzope
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.9F CFA 53.1K
$47.38MX$804
98.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.45F CFA 21.7K
$43.45MX$737
-11.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.1F CFA 44.1K
$80.2MX$1,361
-2.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145F CFA 82.0K
$91.4MX$1,550
58.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Adzope
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,086MX$18.4K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$409MX$6,933
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,972MX$33.5K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,281MX$21.7K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,046MX$68.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,704MX$113.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Adzope
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$773MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15.75
11.45
37.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Adzope: September 6, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $71.0 in Adzope vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $247 vs $278, with Adzope cheaper for home cooking.
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
Adzope vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Adzope or Playa del Carmen?
Adzope wins on cost – living expenses run 69% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Adzope the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Adzope and in Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $1,155 in Adzope and $1,958 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do childcare costs compare in Adzope and in Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $372 in Adzope versus $226 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Adzope and in Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Adzope – a meal for two runs $71.0 versus $47.00 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 Adzope or in Playa del Carmen?
At $770 in Adzope versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Adzope but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Adzope the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Adzope or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Adzope delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $770 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Adzope hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Adzope gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.