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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $888 in Ballasalla versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,259 in Ballasalla versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,631 in Ballasalla versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Ballasalla costs roughly 32% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ballasalla 34% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.13 IMP 12.02

$11.73 MX$203

37.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$719

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.77 IMP 8.77

$10.64 MX$184

10.62%

Cappuccino

$8.10 IMP 6.03

$3.52 MX$60.8

130.11%

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

$2.62 IMP 1.95

$1.51 MX$26.09

73.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 IMP 2.10

$0.97 MX$16.82

190.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.49 IMP 4.09

$2.95 MX$51.0

86.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.24 IMP 4.65

$4.45 MX$77.0

40.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.90

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.69

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.29

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.30

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$185

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.00

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.18

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.84

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.88

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.68

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.76

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$17.97

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.60

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.5

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.59

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.50

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.88 IMP 3.64

$0.51 MX$8.81

856.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.8 IMP 51.3

$26.46 MX$457

160.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.4

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.05

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.85 IMP 1.38

$1.31 MX$22.59

41.22%

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

$30.3K MX$523.2K

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

$23.4K MX$404.9K

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

$272 IMP 203

$82.9 MX$1,432

228.41%

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

$40.54 IMP 30.21

$22.22 MX$384

82.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.5 IMP 40.63

$29.34 MX$507

85.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.6 IMP 39.92

$51.6 MX$892

3.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.37 IMP 20.39

$18.32 MX$317

49.40%

Cinema Ticket

$26.70 IMP 19.89

$5.07 MX$87.5

426.63%

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

$201 MX$3,470

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$638

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$688

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,356

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,505

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,289 IMP 960

$973 MX$16.8K

32.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,082

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,547 IMP 1,897

$1,641 MX$28.4K

55.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,176 IMP 1,621

$1,221 MX$21.1K

78.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

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 Ballasalla: June 2, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,289 in Ballasalla and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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

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

Ballasalla is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear. The 46% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,331 in Ballasalla 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,289 in Ballasalla versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Ballasalla runs roughly 160% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

All in, you'll spend $888 per month in Ballasalla versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – a 46% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $888 in Ballasalla versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ballasalla but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Ballasalla the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Ballasalla is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Ballasalla 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.

Expats usually find Ballasalla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.