😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,326 in Badajoz versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,943 in Badajoz versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,559 in Badajoz versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Badajoz is roughly 6% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Badajoz1% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Badajoz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.05€12.27
$11.99MX$210
17.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.21€37.75
$41.78MX$731
3.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.60€9.26
$10.75MX$188
-1.40%
Cappuccino
$1.81€1.58
$3.50MX$61.1
-48.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.86
$1.45MX$25.33
46.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.20
$0.88MX$15.47
55.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.28€1.99
$2.95MX$51.6
-22.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49€3.05
$4.51MX$78.9
-22.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Badajoz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13€0.99
$1.43MX$25.04
-20.98%
White Bread(500g)
$1.20€1.05
$1.84MX$32.13
-34.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64€1.44
$1.57MX$27.42
4.46%
Eggs
$2.76€2.41
$2.51MX$43.92
9.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.06€12.29
$8.28MX$145
69.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.87€6.88
$8.43MX$147
-6.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.47€10.90
$10.68MX$187
16.76%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.07
$2.61MX$45.62
-9.20%
Banana(1kg)
$2.07€1.81
$1.44MX$25.15
43.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.72€1.50
$1.96MX$34.31
-12.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.65€2.32
$2.09MX$36.62
26.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.70€1.49
$1.85MX$32.37
-8.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.62
$2.17MX$37.90
-14.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.92€0.80
$1.03MX$18.04
-10.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57€0.50
$1.07MX$18.78
-46.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.71€4.99
$4.10MX$71.7
39.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.96€6.08
$10.17MX$178
-31.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.21
$1.68MX$29.29
-17.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28€1.99
$2.53MX$44.17
-9.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Badajoz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37€1.20
$0.51MX$8.90
168.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.35€25.65
$26.04MX$455
12.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.25€2.84
$3.23MX$56.5
0.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04€0.91
$2.41MX$42.06
-56.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.04€19.25
$3.23MX$56.5
582.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.59
$1.32MX$23.10
37.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K€23.0K
$29.7KMX$519.2K
-11.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6K€21.5K
$23.7KMX$413.7K
3.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Badajoz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$110€96.3
$82.0MX$1,434
34.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.52€21.43
$22.95MX$401
6.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.79€31.27
$30.11MX$527
18.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Badajoz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.61€37.23
$52.0MX$909
-18.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.66€4.07
$18.53MX$324
-74.85%
Cinema Ticket
$8.62€7.53
$4.98MX$87.0
73.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Badajoz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$365€319
$197MX$3,452
84.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,792€4,186
$5,336MX$93.3K
-10.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Badajoz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.7€73.1
$35.60MX$622
135.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.20€27.26
$40.33MX$705
-22.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.7€52.1
$78.8MX$1,377
-24.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.0€63.8
$88.9MX$1,555
-17.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Badajoz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$605€529
$947MX$16.6K
-36.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$498€435
$474MX$8,288
5.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$939€821
$1,644MX$28.7K
-42.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$682€596
$1,211MX$21.2K
-43.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,675€1,463
$4,056MX$70.9K
-58.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,357€1,186
$6,470MX$113.1K
-79.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Badajoz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,497€1,308
$654MX$11.4K
128.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.02
11.42
-73.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Badajoz: July 12, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $605 in Badajoz and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Badajoz pays 129% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Badajoz vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $249 vs $249, with Badajoz 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
Badajoz vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Badajoz?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Badajoz or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 129% higher in Badajoz, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Badajoz and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $605 in Badajoz versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Badajoz and in Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,326 per month in Badajoz versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 13% less than in Badajoz. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Badajoz or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,326 in Badajoz, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Badajoz. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Badajoz or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Badajoz, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Badajoz or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Badajoz 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Badajoz. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.