Cost of Living Comparison Between Bakau and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Bakau and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $286 per month in Bakau vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $486 per month in Bakau vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $686 per month in Bakau vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Bakau is about 77% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Bakau and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Bakau 79% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.31 GMD 320

$11.99 MX$210

-64.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$731

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.75 MX$188

Cappuccino

$4.74 GMD 351

$3.50 MX$61.1

35.43%

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

$1.45 MX$25.33

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 GMD 82.0

$0.88 MX$15.47

26.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 GMD 128

$2.95 MX$51.6

-41.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 GMD 205

$4.51 MX$78.9

-38.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.61 GMD 194

$1.43 MX$25.04

82.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$32.13

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$27.42

Eggs

$5.51 GMD 408

$2.51 MX$43.92

119.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.28 MX$145

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.92 GMD 1,254

$8.43 MX$147

100.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.68 MX$187

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 MX$45.62

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MX$25.15

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$34.31

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$36.62

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 MX$32.37

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.90

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 MX$18.04

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.78

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MX$71.7

Wine (Bottle)

$13.63 GMD 1,011

$10.17 MX$178

34.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 GMD 156

$1.68 MX$29.29

25.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 GMD 213

$2.53 MX$44.17

13.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.90

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$455

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.5

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.41 MX$42.06

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$23.10

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

$29.7K MX$519.2K

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

$23.7K MX$413.7K

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

$82.0 MX$1,434

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

$22.95 MX$401

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.11 MX$527

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$909

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$324

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MX$87.0

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

$197 MX$3,452

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$93.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.60 MX$622

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$705

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,377

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,555

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 MX$16.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,288

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 MX$28.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$70.4 GMD 5,218

$1,211 MX$21.2K

-94.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$70.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$113.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 MX$11.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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

Last update for Bakau: July 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

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

Bakau vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen costs about 339% more than Bakau, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $429 per month in Bakau and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $286 in Bakau and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 41% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bakau, where all-in costs run around $286, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Bakau it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bakau costs $286 versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Bakau. 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.