πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,046 in Albion versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,860 in Albion versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,674 in Albion versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
πLiving in Albion costs roughly 19% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Albion22% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Albion
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.69MURΒ 316
$11.73MX$203
-42.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.06MURΒ 2,082
$41.62MX$720
5.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.43MURΒ 304
$10.64MX$184
-39.57%
Cappuccino
$1.60MURΒ 75.4
$3.52MX$60.9
-54.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MURΒ 45.90
$1.51MX$26.12
-35.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60MURΒ 28.58
$0.97MX$16.84
-38.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.96MURΒ 92.6
$2.95MX$51.0
-33.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66MURΒ 126
$4.45MX$77.0
-40.22%
π Groceries & Markets
Albion
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.51MURΒ 71.4
$1.38MX$23.93
9.42%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56MURΒ 26.65
$1.89MX$32.72
-70.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32MURΒ 62.4
$1.64MX$28.32
-19.51%
Eggs
$2.35MURΒ 111
$2.51MX$43.34
-6.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.91MURΒ 563
$8.34MX$144
42.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.27MURΒ 249
$8.34MX$144
-36.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.32MURΒ 393
$10.73MX$186
-22.46%
Apples(1kg)
$1.61MURΒ 76.1
$2.60MX$45.04
-38.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38MURΒ 65.0
$1.46MX$25.20
-5.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.45MURΒ 68.5
$1.90MX$32.87
-23.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02MURΒ 95.6
$2.08MX$35.91
-2.88%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84MURΒ 39.69
$1.78MX$30.71
-52.81%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67MURΒ 31.85
$2.19MX$37.80
-69.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.63MURΒ 29.72
$1.04MX$17.99
-39.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31MURΒ 14.83
$1.08MX$18.62
-71.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.01MURΒ 284
$4.08MX$70.6
47.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.83MURΒ 370
$10.32MX$178
-24.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MURΒ 81.5
$1.71MX$29.61
1.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17MURΒ 102
$2.58MX$44.54
-15.89%
π Getting Around
Albion
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.11MURΒ 52.7
$0.51MX$8.81
117.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$44.01MURΒ 2,079
$26.46MX$458
66.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.31MURΒ 204
$3.26MX$56.4
32.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.59MURΒ 122
$2.49MX$43.09
4.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.77MURΒ 934
$3.25MX$56.2
508.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.38MURΒ 65.3
$1.31MX$22.61
5.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5KMURΒ 1.7M
$30.3KMX$523.7K
17.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3KMURΒ 1.3M
$23.4KMX$405.3K
20.80%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Albion
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$48.51MURΒ 2,292
$82.9MX$1,433
-41.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.39MURΒ 869
$22.22MX$384
-17.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.42MURΒ 1,579
$29.34MX$507
13.91%
π Sport & Entertainment
Albion
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$69.4MURΒ 3,279
$51.6MX$893
34.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.32MX$317
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.01MURΒ 284
$5.07MX$87.6
18.54%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Albion
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$157MURΒ 7,414
$201MX$3,473
-21.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,953MURΒ 186.8K
$5,212MX$90.1K
-24.15%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Albion
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8MURΒ 2,634
$36.92MX$639
51.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.35MURΒ 2,096
$39.79MX$688
11.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.1MURΒ 3,691
$78.5MX$1,357
-0.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.7MURΒ 4,192
$87.1MX$1,506
1.87%
π Accommodation & Living
Albion
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$507MURΒ 24.0K
$973MX$16.8K
-47.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$352MURΒ 16.6K
$468MX$8,090
-24.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$932MURΒ 44.0K
$1,641MX$28.4K
-43.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,110MURΒ 52.4K
$1,221MX$21.1K
-9.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,946MX$68.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,498MX$112.4K
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Albion
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$664MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
11.42
-41.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Albion: May 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $507 in Albion and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $44.00 in Albion vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $193 vs $249, with Albion 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
Albion vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Albion and Playa del Carmen?
Albion and Playa del Carmen differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($1,046 vs $1,297 including rent). Albion is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Albion compared to Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $1,569 in Albion and $1,945 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 apartment prices compare in Albion and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $507 in Albion versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Albion and Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Albion runs roughly 66% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Albion and Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $157 in Albion versus $201 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,046 in Albion versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Albion but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Albion the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Albion 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 Albion or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Albion 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: Albion or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Albion gentler on the wallet β expenses run 24% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.