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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,654 per month in Bata vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,376 per month in Bata vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,098 per month in Bata vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Bata costs about 32% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Bata sits 24% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.71 FCFA 9,595

$11.99 MX$209

39.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.3 FCFA 32.3K

$41.78 MX$728

34.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.75 MX$187

Cappuccino

$2.71 FCFA 1,555

$3.50 MX$60.9

-22.57%

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

$0.98 FCFA 563

$1.45 MX$25.22

-32.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 FCFA 488

$0.88 MX$15.41

-3.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.49 FCFA 2,004

$2.95 MX$51.3

18.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.36 FCFA 2,501

$4.51 MX$78.6

-3.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 FCFA 1,282

$1.43 MX$24.94

55.94%

White Bread (500g)

$3.26 FCFA 1,869

$1.84 MX$31.99

77.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.50 FCFA 1,433

$1.57 MX$27.31

59.24%

Eggs

$2.10 FCFA 1,204

$2.51 MX$43.74

-16.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.49 FCFA 6,023

$8.28 MX$144

26.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.98 FCFA 4,006

$8.43 MX$147

-17.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.08 FCFA 5,212

$10.68 MX$186

-14.98%

Apples (1kg)

$7.41 FCFA 4,256

$2.61 MX$45.43

183.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 FCFA 1,020

$1.44 MX$25.04

23.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.93 FCFA 3,977

$1.96 MX$34.16

253.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.07 FCFA 2,336

$2.09 MX$36.47

94.74%

Potato (1kg)

$3.17 FCFA 1,819

$1.85 MX$32.24

71.35%

Onion (1kg)

$3.02 FCFA 1,733

$2.17 MX$37.74

39.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 FCFA 521

$1.03 MX$17.96

-11.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 FCFA 1,381

$1.07 MX$18.70

124.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.16 FCFA 2,963

$4.10 MX$71.4

25.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.10 FCFA 3,501

$10.17 MX$177

-40.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.54 FCFA 2,034

$1.68 MX$29.17

110.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$43.98

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.87

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 FCFA 490

$3.23 MX$56.3

-73.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.78 FCFA 445

$2.41 MX$41.88

-67.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 FCFA 660

$1.32 MX$23.00

-12.88%

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

$29.7K MX$517.1K

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

$23.7K MX$412.0K

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

$355 FCFA 204.0K

$82.0 MX$1,428

333.35%

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

$22.95 MX$400

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$200 FCFA 115.1K

$30.11 MX$524

565.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$124 FCFA 71.1K

$52.0 MX$905

138.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$323

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MX$86.6

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

$197 MX$3,438

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$92.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.1 FCFA 43.7K

$35.60 MX$620

113.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$78.0 FCFA 44.8K

$40.33 MX$702

93.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$160 FCFA 92.1K

$78.8 MX$1,371

103.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$160 FCFA 92.0K

$88.9 MX$1,549

80.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$392 FCFA 225.2K

$947 MX$16.5K

-58.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$219 FCFA 125.9K

$474 MX$8,254

-53.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$575 FCFA 330.1K

$1,644 MX$28.6K

-65.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$347 FCFA 199.0K

$1,211 MX$21.1K

-71.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$70.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$112.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$785 FCFA 450.7K

$654 MX$11.4K

20.05%

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 Bata: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $392 in Bata versus $947 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.

Salaries run about 20% higher in Bata, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $56.0 in Bata versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $341 vs $249 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Bata costs about 32% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,481 per month in Bata and $1,884 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 Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,654 in Bata 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 37% more in Bata, 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 Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Bata at $1,654. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bata it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,256 versus $1,654 in Bata. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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