๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,235 in Beliลกฤe versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Beliลกฤe versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,433 in Beliลกฤe versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.
๐Living in Beliลกฤe costs roughly 3% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Both cities sit below the global median: Beliลกฤe8% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Beliลกฤe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.31โฌ7.16
$11.87MX$204
-29.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.17โฌ34.61
$42.90MX$736
-6.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.84โฌ5.90
$10.65MX$183
-35.77%
Cappuccino
$2.05โฌ1.77
$3.45MX$59.2
-40.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36โฌ2.03
$1.50MX$25.81
57.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01โฌ1.73
$0.95MX$16.28
111.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.38โฌ2.05
$3.03MX$51.9
-21.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35โฌ2.03
$4.61MX$79.1
-49.02%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Beliลกฤe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.92โฌ0.79
$1.38MX$23.61
-33.33%
White Bread(500g)
$0.66โฌ0.57
$1.85MX$31.70
-64.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.94โฌ2.53
$1.61MX$27.65
82.61%
Eggs
$3.17โฌ2.73
$2.59MX$44.51
22.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.79โฌ9.30
$8.26MX$142
30.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.43โฌ6.40
$8.37MX$144
-11.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.26โฌ9.70
$10.66MX$183
5.63%
Apples(1kg)
$1.15โฌ0.99
$2.63MX$45.12
-56.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.43โฌ1.23
$1.49MX$25.53
-4.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.63โฌ1.41
$1.92MX$32.94
-15.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46โฌ2.12
$2.09MX$35.81
17.70%
Potato(1kg)
$0.97โฌ0.84
$1.86MX$31.88
-47.85%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18โฌ1.02
$2.26MX$38.81
-47.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20โฌ1.04
$1.06MX$18.23
13.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97โฌ0.84
$1.09MX$18.67
-11.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.50โฌ4.74
$4.15MX$71.2
32.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.08โฌ6.10
$10.39MX$178
-31.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18โฌ1.02
$1.72MX$29.59
-31.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92โฌ1.66
$2.61MX$44.85
-26.44%
๐ Getting Around
Beliลกฤe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.72โฌ1.48
$0.54MX$9.30
218.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.47โฌ36.59
$26.94MX$462
57.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.71โฌ3.19
$3.13MX$53.7
18.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.15โฌ0.99
$2.51MX$43.09
-54.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.76โฌ4.96
$3.15MX$54.1
82.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.68โฌ1.44
$1.27MX$21.88
32.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2Kโฌ27.7K
$30.4KMX$521.3K
6.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5Kโฌ23.7K
$23.6KMX$404.5K
16.53%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beliลกฤe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123โฌ106
$83.0MX$1,425
48.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.63โฌ15.19
$22.71MX$390
-22.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.57โฌ22.90
$29.46MX$506
-9.81%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Beliลกฤe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.03โฌ22.43
$51.0MX$875
-48.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.48โฌ12.48
$18.33MX$315
-21.00%
Cinema Ticket
$5.22โฌ4.50
$4.93MX$84.5
5.88%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Beliลกฤe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$349โฌ301
$197MX$3,386
76.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,796โฌ2,409
$5,280MX$90.6K
-47.04%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Beliลกฤe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$122โฌ105
$36.90MX$633
231.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.61โฌ36.71
$39.89MX$685
6.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$46.03โฌ39.66
$80.0MX$1,373
-42.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.4โฌ50.4
$89.5MX$1,536
-34.69%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Beliลกฤe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$190โฌ164
$956MX$16.4K
-80.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$469โฌ404
$477MX$8,189
-1.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$343โฌ295
$1,646MX$28.3K
-79.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$775โฌ668
$1,225MX$21.0K
-36.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,251โฌ3,663
$3,918MX$67.2K
8.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,189โฌ1,024
$6,459MX$110.9K
-81.59%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Beliลกฤe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,818โฌ1,566
$667MX$11.4K
172.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.2
11.42
-71.98%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Beliลกฤe: June 8, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $190 in Beliลกฤe and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐBeliลกฤe pays 173% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
๐Dining out: $40.00 in Beliลกฤe vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $222 vs $250 per month, with Beliลกฤe 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
Beliลกฤe vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Beliลกฤe and Playa del Carmen?
Beliลกฤe and Playa del Carmen differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($1,235 vs $1,271 including rent). Beliลกฤe is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Beliลกฤe or Playa del Carmen?
Beliลกฤe pays 173% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Beliลกฤe and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $190 in Beliลกฤe versus $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Beliลกฤe and Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $349 in Beliลกฤe versus $197 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,235 in Beliลกฤe versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Beliลกฤe but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Beliลกฤe the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Beliลกฤe and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Beliลกฤe or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Beliลกฤe 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.
Where should expats move: Beliลกฤe or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Beliลกฤe gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 3% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.