🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $626 in Bel Ombre versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,044 in Bel Ombre versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,462 in Bel Ombre versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Bel Ombre costs roughly 51% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bel Ombre54% lower, Playa del Carmen7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bel Ombre
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.77MUR 274
$11.60MX$199
-50.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.89MUR 1,800
$47.11MX$809
-19.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.31MUR 347
$11.88MX$204
-38.47%
Cappuccino
$2.60MUR 123
$3.98MX$68.2
-34.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14MUR 54.2
$1.43MX$24.49
-20.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62MUR 29.61
$0.82MX$14.16
-24.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.68MUR 127
$3.19MX$54.7
-15.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.84MUR 230
$6.79MX$117
-28.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bel Ombre
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.56MUR 74.3
$1.68MX$28.76
-7.14%
White Bread(500g)
$0.74MUR 35.23
$2.20MX$37.71
-66.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.11MUR 52.9
$1.71MX$29.32
-35.09%
Eggs
$2.61MUR 124
$2.74MX$47.05
-4.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.20MUR 247
$9.58MX$164
-45.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.55MUR 311
$9.01MX$155
-27.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.35MUR 539
$12.81MX$220
-11.40%
Apples(1kg)
$2.77MUR 132
$2.89MX$49.58
-4.15%
Banana(1kg)
$2.72MUR 129
$1.50MX$25.70
81.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.44MUR 68.2
$2.15MX$36.87
-33.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.94MUR 140
$2.26MX$38.79
30.09%
Potato(1kg)
$0.95MUR 44.94
$1.98MX$34.00
-52.02%
Onion(1kg)
$0.94MUR 44.71
$1.99MX$34.15
-52.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.69MUR 32.72
$1.23MX$21.18
-43.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92MUR 43.84
$1.20MX$20.54
-23.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.53MUR 310
$4.55MX$78.1
43.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.31MUR 395
$10.37MX$178
-19.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MUR 81.7
$1.62MX$27.79
6.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34MUR 111
$2.88MX$49.44
-18.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Bel Ombre
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.60MX$10.30
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$28.80MX$494
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.26MUR 202
$5.39MX$92.5
-20.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.25MUR 155
$3.73MX$64.0
-12.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.33MUR 1,013
$5.77MX$99.0
269.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.38MUR 65.6
$1.54MX$26.37
-10.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4KMUR 1.7M
$22.5KMX$387.0K
61.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6KMUR 1.5M
$26.1KMX$447.3K
17.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bel Ombre
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.32MUR 2,105
$91.4MX$1,569
-51.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.40MUR 494
$25.20MX$433
-58.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.97MUR 1,376
$31.24MX$536
-7.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bel Ombre
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$67.2MX$1,154
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.11MX$500
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MUR 299
$4.86MX$83.5
29.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bel Ombre
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$126MUR 5,992
$224MX$3,839
-43.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,766MUR 368.9K
$4,229MX$72.6K
83.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bel Ombre
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.4MUR 3,675
$47.10MX$808
64.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$75.4MUR 3,581
$44.29MX$760
70.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121MUR 5,757
$80.1MX$1,375
51.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.6MUR 3,639
$92.7MX$1,591
-17.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bel Ombre
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,063MX$18.2K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$390MX$6,698
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,149MX$36.9K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,272MX$21.8K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,001MX$68.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,502MX$111.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bel Ombre
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$758MX$13.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
11.45
-41.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bel Ombre: September 14, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $38.00 in Bel Ombre vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $219 vs $276 per month, with Bel Ombre 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
Bel Ombre vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bel Ombre or Playa del Carmen?
Bel Ombre wins on cost – living expenses run 102% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bel Ombre the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bel Ombre and in Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $938 in Bel Ombre and $1,899 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.
How do childcare costs compare in Bel Ombre and in Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $126 in Bel Ombre versus $224 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Bel Ombre and in Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Bel Ombre – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bel Ombre or in Playa del Carmen?
At $626 in Bel Ombre versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bel Ombre but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Bel Ombre the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bel Ombre or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bel Ombre delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $626 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bel Ombre hard to pass up.
How safe is Bel Ombre compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Bel Ombre 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bel Ombre gentler on the wallet – expenses run 102% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.