😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,266 in Beau Vallon versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,374 in Beau Vallon versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,483 in Beau Vallon versus $3,374 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Beau Vallon is roughly 75% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Beau Vallon is 65% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beau Vallon
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.37SCR 191
$11.71MX$198
14.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.2SCR 777
$46.59MX$787
16.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.92SCR 99.2
$11.65MX$197
-40.60%
Cappuccino
$5.08SCR 72.7
$4.09MX$69.2
24.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55SCR 22.15
$1.37MX$23.23
13.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09SCR 15.59
$0.83MX$14.09
31.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.05SCR 144
$3.35MX$56.7
200.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.87SCR 84.1
$6.91MX$117
-15.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beau Vallon
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.39SCR 34.24
$1.73MX$29.19
38.15%
White Bread(500g)
$1.86SCR 26.70
$2.26MX$38.20
-17.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.93SCR 41.96
$1.77MX$29.90
65.54%
Eggs
$5.20SCR 74.4
$2.73MX$46.18
90.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.71SCR 225
$9.18MX$155
71.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.55SCR 122
$8.92MX$151
-4.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.35SCR 148
$12.60MX$213
-17.86%
Apples(1kg)
$2.83SCR 40.54
$3.02MX$51.1
-6.29%
Banana(1kg)
$2.88SCR 41.30
$1.57MX$26.54
83.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04SCR 29.23
$2.13MX$35.92
-4.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$13.90SCR 199
$2.26MX$38.27
515.04%
Potato(1kg)
-
$2.00MX$33.87
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.20SCR 17.16
$2.06MX$34.89
-41.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.08SCR 29.77
$1.18MX$19.94
76.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07SCR 15.28
$1.20MX$20.35
-10.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$22.41SCR 321
$4.63MX$78.3
384.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.69SCR 153
$10.69MX$181
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.55SCR 50.9
$1.62MX$27.37
119.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25SCR 60.8
$2.88MX$48.69
47.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Beau Vallon
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.71SCR 10.13
$0.57MX$9.69
24.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.66SCR 210
$29.83MX$504
-50.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$29.09SCR 417
$5.45MX$92.1
433.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$3.70MX$62.6
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.98MX$101
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.55MX$26.25
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$22.3KMX$377.3K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$25.9KMX$438.5K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beau Vallon
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$193SCR 2,759
$89.1MX$1,506
116.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.89SCR 600
$25.04MX$423
67.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$106SCR 1,522
$31.50MX$532
237.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beau Vallon
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$180SCR 2,571
$67.8MX$1,145
164.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.92MX$489
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.36SCR 206
$5.05MX$85.3
184.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beau Vallon
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$225MX$3,802
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$4,222MX$71.4K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beau Vallon
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$47.44MX$802
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$44.98MX$760
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$82.0MX$1,386
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$92.1MX$1,556
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beau Vallon
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,135SCR 16.3K
$1,069MX$18.1K
6.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,036SCR 14.8K
$405MX$6,850
155.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,230SCR 31.9K
$1,935MX$32.7K
15.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,901SCR 27.2K
$1,301MX$22.0K
46.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,250SCR 17.9K
$3,995MX$67.5K
-68.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$626SCR 8,963
$6,626MX$112.0K
-90.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beau Vallon
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$749MX$12.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
11.45
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Beau Vallon: August 29, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,135 in Beau Vallon and $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Beau Vallon vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $376 vs $277 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
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
Beau Vallon vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Beau Vallon?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 75% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,399 in Beau Vallon and $1,940 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.
What is the rent difference between Beau Vallon and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,135 in Beau Vallon versus $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Beau Vallon and in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 36% higher in Beau Vallon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Beau Vallon and in Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,266 per month in Beau Vallon versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen – a 75% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Beau Vallon or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,266 in Beau Vallon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Beau Vallon. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Beau Vallon or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Beau Vallon, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Beau Vallon or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Beau Vallon 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 75% less than in Beau Vallon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Beau Vallon vs other spots: cost of living compared