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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $104 per month in Barra vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $174 per month in Barra vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $245 per month in Barra vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Barra is about 92% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Barra and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Barra 92% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.71 MX$198

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.59 MX$786

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.65 MX$197

Cappuccino

$4.09 MX$69.1

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

$1.37 MX$23.20

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 MX$14.07

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.35 MX$56.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.91 MX$117

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 MX$29.15

White Bread (500g)

$0.92 GMD 67.4

$2.26 MX$38.15

-59.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 MX$29.86

Eggs

$2.36 GMD 173

$2.73 MX$46.12

-13.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.18 MX$155

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.99 GMD 514

$8.92 MX$151

-21.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.60 MX$213

Apples (1kg)

$3.02 MX$51.0

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 GMD 147

$1.57 MX$26.51

27.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.63 GMD 193

$2.13 MX$35.88

23.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.98 GMD 145

$2.26 MX$38.22

-12.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 GMD 78.3

$2.00 MX$33.82

-46.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.84 GMD 61.5

$2.06 MX$34.85

-59.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 MX$19.91

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 GMD 33.02

$1.20 MX$20.32

-62.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.63 MX$78.2

Wine (Bottle)

$10.69 MX$180

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 GMD 81.0

$1.62 MX$27.33

-32.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$48.63

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 MX$9.68

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.83 MX$503

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.45 MX$91.9

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.70 MX$62.5

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 MX$101

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 MX$26.22

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

$22.3K MX$376.8K

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

$25.9K MX$438.0K

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

$89.1 MX$1,504

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

$25.04 MX$423

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.50 MX$532

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.8 MX$1,144

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.92 MX$488

Cinema Ticket

$5.05 MX$85.2

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

$225 MX$3,797

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,222 MX$71.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.44 MX$801

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.98 MX$759

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 MX$1,384

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.1 MX$1,555

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,069 MX$18.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$405 MX$6,842

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,935 MX$32.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,301 MX$22.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,995 MX$67.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,626 MX$111.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$749 MX$12.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

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

Last update for Barra: August 30, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 1147%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $156 per month in Barra and $1,940 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 $104 in Barra and $1,293 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 172% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Barra, where all-in costs run around $104, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. In Barra it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Barra – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Barra. 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.