😐A single person spends $2,252 per month in Bega NSW vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,273 per month in Bega NSW vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,294 per month in Bega NSW vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Bega NSW costs about 79% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Bega NSW sits 69% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bega NSW
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.52A$23.67
$11.99MX$210
37.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.7A$110
$41.78MX$733
83.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.99A$14.31
$10.75MX$189
-7.07%
Cappuccino
$3.41A$4.89
$3.50MX$61.3
-2.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53A$3.62
$1.45MX$25.41
74.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09A$2.99
$0.88MX$15.52
137.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.36A$9.11
$2.95MX$51.7
115.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.33A$10.50
$4.51MX$79.1
62.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bega NSW
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44A$2.07
$1.43MX$25.12
0.70%
White Bread(500g)
$2.41A$3.46
$1.84MX$32.23
30.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.00A$2.87
$1.57MX$27.51
27.39%
Eggs
$4.26A$6.10
$2.51MX$44.06
69.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.39A$12.03
$8.28MX$145
1.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.66A$12.41
$8.43MX$148
2.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56A$19.42
$10.68MX$187
26.97%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23A$4.63
$2.61MX$45.76
23.75%
Banana(1kg)
$2.83A$4.06
$1.44MX$25.22
96.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.99A$4.28
$1.96MX$34.41
52.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.17A$5.98
$2.09MX$36.74
99.52%
Potato(1kg)
$2.51A$3.60
$1.85MX$32.47
35.68%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11A$3.03
$2.17MX$38.02
-2.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.15A$3.08
$1.03MX$18.09
108.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.51A$2.17
$1.07MX$18.84
41.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$30.40A$43.55
$4.10MX$72.0
641.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.54A$22.27
$10.17MX$178
52.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.45A$6.37
$1.68MX$29.38
164.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.27A$7.55
$2.53MX$44.31
108.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Bega NSW
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.62A$3.75
$0.51MX$8.93
413.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$64.6A$92.6
$26.04MX$457
148.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.64A$5.21
$3.23MX$56.7
12.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.55A$2.21
$2.41MX$42.19
-35.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.39A$47.83
$3.23MX$56.6
933.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18A$1.68
$1.32MX$23.17
-10.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.7KA$41.1K
$29.7KMX$520.9K
-3.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5KA$32.2K
$23.7KMX$415.0K
-5.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bega NSW
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$184A$264
$82.0MX$1,439
124.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.60A$39.55
$22.95MX$403
20.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.4A$75.0
$30.11MX$528
73.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bega NSW
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.05A$68.8
$52.0MX$912
-7.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.43A$22.11
$18.53MX$325
-16.73%
Cinema Ticket
$12.79A$18.33
$4.98MX$87.3
156.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bega NSW
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,633A$2,340
$197MX$3,463
727.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.0KA$17.1K
$5,336MX$93.6K
124.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bega NSW
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.2A$99.1
$35.60MX$624
94.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.0A$71.7
$40.33MX$707
24.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.3A$141
$78.8MX$1,381
24.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108A$154
$88.9MX$1,560
21.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bega NSW
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,247A$1,786
$947MX$16.6K
31.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,051A$1,505
$474MX$8,314
121.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,007A$2,875
$1,644MX$28.8K
22.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,711A$2,452
$1,211MX$21.2K
41.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,350A$7,665
$4,056MX$71.1K
31.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,880A$6,991
$6,470MX$113.5K
-24.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bega NSW
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$654MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.34
11.42
-44.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bega NSW: July 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,247 in Bega NSW 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Bega NSW 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
Bega NSW vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Bega NSW?
Yes – Bega NSW is pricier by about 79%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,378 per month in Bega NSW and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,633 per month in Bega NSW and $197 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Bega NSW and in Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 37% more in Bega NSW, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Bega NSW or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Bega NSW at $2,252. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bega NSW it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Bega NSW or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Bega NSW or Playa del Carmen?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bega NSW makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.