Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahia de Caraquez and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahia de Caraquez and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $923 per month in Bahia de Caraquez vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,428 per month in Bahia de Caraquez vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,933 per month in Bahia de Caraquez vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Bahia de Caraquez is about 27% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Bahia de Caraquez and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Bahia de Caraquez 31% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 $3.57

$11.87 MX$204

-69.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.74 $47.74

$42.90 MX$736

11.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.19 $8.19

$10.65 MX$183

-23.10%

Cappuccino

$2.63 $2.63

$3.45 MX$59.2

-23.77%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.50 MX$25.81

-39.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 $0.62

$0.95 MX$16.28

-34.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 $2.93

$3.03 MX$51.9

-3.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 $4.38

$4.61 MX$79.1

-4.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.38 MX$23.61

-20.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.85 MX$31.70

-7.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.61 MX$27.65

9.32%

Eggs

$2.62 $2.62

$2.59 MX$44.51

1.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$8.26 MX$142

-25.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.34 $5.34

$8.37 MX$144

-36.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.10 $6.10

$10.66 MX$183

-42.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.63 MX$45.12

-18.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.49 MX$25.53

-27.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.92 MX$32.94

-43.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 $1.08

$2.09 MX$35.81

-48.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.86 MX$31.88

-2.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.39 $1.39

$2.26 MX$38.81

-38.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 $0.74

$1.06 MX$18.23

-30.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.09 MX$18.67

-5.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.07 $6.07

$4.15 MX$71.2

46.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.80 $11.80

$10.39 MX$178

13.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.72 MX$29.59

-9.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.61 MX$44.85

-16.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 $0.36

$0.54 MX$9.30

-33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.21 $24.21

$26.94 MX$462

-10.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.72 $2.72

$3.13 MX$53.7

-13.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.97 $0.97

$2.51 MX$43.09

-61.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.98 $9.98

$3.15 MX$54.1

216.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 $0.63

$1.27 MX$21.88

-50.39%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.5K $25.5K

$30.4K MX$521.3K

-16.06%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$29.4K $29.4K

$23.6K MX$404.5K

24.60%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$37.83 $37.83

$83.0 MX$1,425

-54.42%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.42 $13.42

$22.71 MX$390

-40.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.52 $31.52

$29.46 MX$506

6.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.12 $30.12

$51.0 MX$875

-40.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.42 $14.42

$18.33 MX$315

-21.33%

Cinema Ticket

$7.83 $7.83

$4.93 MX$84.5

58.82%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$310 $310

$197 MX$3,386

57.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,896 $5,896

$5,280 MX$90.6K

11.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.2 $52.2

$36.90 MX$633

41.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.68 $42.68

$39.89 MX$685

6.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 $105

$80.0 MX$1,373

30.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 $110

$89.5 MX$1,536

23.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$337 $337

$956 MX$16.4K

-64.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$315 $315

$477 MX$8,189

-33.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$624 $624

$1,646 MX$28.3K

-62.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$492 $492

$1,225 MX$21.0K

-59.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,311 $1,311

$3,918 MX$67.2K

-66.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$864 $864

$6,459 MX$110.9K

-86.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$667 MX$11.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.35

11.42

-18.13%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bahia de Caraquez: June 7, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $337 in Bahia de Caraquez versus $956 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Bahia de Caraquez versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $195 in Bahia de Caraquez vs $250 in Playa del Carmen – so Bahia de Caraquez wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Bahia de Caraquez vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $923 in Bahia de Caraquez, $1,271 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 38% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,385 per month in Bahia de Caraquez and $1,906 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bahia de Caraquez, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $310 per month in Bahia de Caraquez and $197 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 28% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bahia de Caraquez, where all-in costs run around $923, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Bahia de Caraquez it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $923 in Bahia de Caraquez to $1,271 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bahia de Caraquez. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.