🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $275 in Beira versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $526 in Beira versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $778 in Beira versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Beira costs roughly 79% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Beira80% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beira
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.00MZN 506
$11.73MX$203
-31.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.32MZN 2,234
$41.62MX$720
-15.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$10.64MX$184
-
Cappuccino
$3.15MZN 199
$3.52MX$60.9
-10.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20MZN 76.1
$1.51MX$26.12
-20.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74MZN 47.03
$0.97MX$16.84
-23.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.24MZN 78.4
$2.95MX$51.0
-57.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91MZN 120
$4.45MX$77.0
-57.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beira
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.66MZN 105
$1.38MX$23.93
20.29%
White Bread(500g)
$0.90MZN 56.8
$1.89MX$32.72
-52.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51MZN 95.8
$1.64MX$28.32
-7.93%
Eggs
$1.78MZN 112
$2.51MX$43.34
-29.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$8.34MX$144
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.05MZN 193
$8.34MX$144
-63.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.77MZN 301
$10.73MX$186
-55.55%
Apples(1kg)
$2.78MZN 176
$2.60MX$45.04
6.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.98MZN 125
$1.46MX$25.20
35.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MZN 124
$1.90MX$32.87
3.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.14MZN 135
$2.08MX$35.91
2.88%
Potato(1kg)
$0.97MZN 61.2
$1.78MX$30.71
-45.51%
Onion(1kg)
$0.75MZN 47.55
$2.19MX$37.80
-65.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.31MZN 82.6
$1.04MX$17.99
25.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76MZN 48.35
$1.08MX$18.62
-29.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$0.90MZN 56.7
$4.08MX$70.6
-77.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.13MZN 514
$10.32MX$178
-21.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01MZN 64.0
$1.71MX$29.61
-40.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66MZN 168
$2.58MX$44.54
3.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Beira
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.51MX$8.81
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.46MX$458
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.26MX$56.4
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$2.49MX$43.09
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.25MX$56.2
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.31MX$22.61
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$30.3KMX$523.7K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.4KMX$405.3K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beira
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$82.9MX$1,433
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$22.22MX$384
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$29.34MX$507
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beira
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$51.6MX$893
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.32MX$317
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$5.07MX$87.6
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beira
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$201MX$3,473
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,212MX$90.1K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beira
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$36.92MX$639
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$39.79MX$688
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$78.5MX$1,357
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$87.1MX$1,506
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beira
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$973MX$16.8K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$468MX$8,090
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,641MX$28.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,221MX$21.1K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,946MX$68.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,498MX$112.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beira
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$664MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
11.42
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Beira: May 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $35.00 in Beira vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $158 vs $249 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 Playa del Carmen?
Beira and Playa del Carmen differ by about 372% in total monthly costs ($275 vs $1,297 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 $412 in Beira and $1,945 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 restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Beira – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Beira or Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $275 per month in Beira versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – a 372% 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 $275 in Beira versus $1,297 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 372% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.