🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $380 in Beira versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $725 in Beira versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,070 in Beira versus $3,374 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Beira costs roughly 71% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Beira72% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beira
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.60MZN 796
$11.71MX$199
7.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.82MZN 2,960
$46.59MX$791
0.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$11.65MX$198
-
Cappuccino
$3.19MZN 202
$4.09MX$69.5
-22.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20MZN 75.9
$1.37MX$23.34
-12.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18MZN 74.9
$0.83MX$14.16
42.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.30MZN 82.1
$3.35MX$56.9
-61.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99MZN 126
$6.91MX$117
-71.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beira
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.60MZN 101
$1.73MX$29.33
-7.51%
White Bread(500g)
$0.30MZN 18.94
$2.26MX$38.39
-86.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MZN 99.4
$1.77MX$30.05
-11.30%
Eggs
$1.83MZN 116
$2.73MX$46.41
-32.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$9.18MX$156
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.82MZN 241
$8.92MX$151
-57.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.59MZN 290
$12.60MX$214
-63.57%
Apples(1kg)
$2.33MZN 147
$3.02MX$51.3
-22.85%
Banana(1kg)
$2.32MZN 147
$1.57MX$26.68
47.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.29MZN 145
$2.13MX$36.10
7.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.23MZN 78.0
$2.26MX$38.46
-45.58%
Potato(1kg)
$1.23MZN 77.9
$2.00MX$34.04
-38.50%
Onion(1kg)
$0.90MZN 56.9
$2.06MX$35.06
-56.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.29MZN 145
$1.18MX$20.04
94.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68MZN 42.88
$1.20MX$20.45
-43.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$0.91MZN 57.8
$4.63MX$78.7
-80.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.11MZN 513
$10.69MX$182
-24.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MZN 65.6
$1.62MX$27.50
-35.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90MZN 247
$2.88MX$48.93
35.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Beira
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.57MX$9.74
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$29.83MX$507
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.77MZN 48.53
$5.45MX$92.5
-85.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$3.70MX$62.9
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.98MX$102
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29MZN 81.4
$1.55MX$26.38
-16.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$22.3KMX$379.2K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$25.9KMX$440.7K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beira
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$89.1MX$1,514
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$25.04MX$425
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$31.50MX$535
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beira
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$67.8MX$1,151
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.92MX$491
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$5.05MX$85.8
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beira
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$89.5MZN 5,659
$225MX$3,820
-60.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$4,222MX$71.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beira
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.93MZN 1,197
$47.44MX$806
-60.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.41MZN 2,428
$44.98MX$764
-14.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$39.42MZN 2,492
$82.0MX$1,392
-51.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.62MZN 2,947
$92.1MX$1,564
-49.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beira
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,069MX$18.2K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$405MX$6,884
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,935MX$32.9K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,301MX$22.1K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,995MX$67.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,626MX$112.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beira
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 Beira: August 30, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Beira vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $158 vs $277 per month, with Beira 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
Beira vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Beira and in Playa del Carmen?
Beira and Playa del Carmen differ by about 240% in total monthly costs ($380 vs $1,293 including rent). Beira is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Beira compared to Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $570 in Beira 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.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 75% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Beira or Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $380 per month in Beira versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen – a 240% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $380 in Beira versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Beira but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Beira the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Beira and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Beira or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Beira gentler on the wallet – expenses run 240% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.