Cost of Living Comparison Between Beliลกฤ‡e and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Beliลกฤ‡e and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,235 in Beliลกฤ‡e versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Beliลกฤ‡e versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,433 in Beliลกฤ‡e versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Beliลกฤ‡e costs roughly 3% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Beliลกฤ‡e 8% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Beliลกฤ‡e
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.31 โ‚ฌ7.16
$11.87 MX$204
-29.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.17 โ‚ฌ34.61
$42.90 MX$736
-6.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.84 โ‚ฌ5.90
$10.65 MX$183
-35.77%
Cappuccino
$2.05 โ‚ฌ1.77
$3.45 MX$59.2
-40.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 โ‚ฌ2.03
$1.50 MX$25.81
57.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 โ‚ฌ1.73
$0.95 MX$16.28
111.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.38 โ‚ฌ2.05
$3.03 MX$51.9
-21.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 โ‚ฌ2.03
$4.61 MX$79.1
-49.02%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Beliลกฤ‡e
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.92 โ‚ฌ0.79
$1.38 MX$23.61
-33.33%
White Bread (500g)
$0.66 โ‚ฌ0.57
$1.85 MX$31.70
-64.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.94 โ‚ฌ2.53
$1.61 MX$27.65
82.61%
Eggs
$3.17 โ‚ฌ2.73
$2.59 MX$44.51
22.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.79 โ‚ฌ9.30
$8.26 MX$142
30.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.43 โ‚ฌ6.40
$8.37 MX$144
-11.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.26 โ‚ฌ9.70
$10.66 MX$183
5.63%
Apples (1kg)
$1.15 โ‚ฌ0.99
$2.63 MX$45.12
-56.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 โ‚ฌ1.23
$1.49 MX$25.53
-4.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 โ‚ฌ1.41
$1.92 MX$32.94
-15.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 โ‚ฌ2.12
$2.09 MX$35.81
17.70%
Potato (1kg)
$0.97 โ‚ฌ0.84
$1.86 MX$31.88
-47.85%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 โ‚ฌ1.02
$2.26 MX$38.81
-47.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.20 โ‚ฌ1.04
$1.06 MX$18.23
13.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 โ‚ฌ0.84
$1.09 MX$18.67
-11.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.50 โ‚ฌ4.74
$4.15 MX$71.2
32.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.08 โ‚ฌ6.10
$10.39 MX$178
-31.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 โ‚ฌ1.02
$1.72 MX$29.59
-31.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 โ‚ฌ1.66
$2.61 MX$44.85
-26.44%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Beliลกฤ‡e
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.72 โ‚ฌ1.48
$0.54 MX$9.30
218.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.47 โ‚ฌ36.59
$26.94 MX$462
57.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.71 โ‚ฌ3.19
$3.13 MX$53.7
18.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.15 โ‚ฌ0.99
$2.51 MX$43.09
-54.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.76 โ‚ฌ4.96
$3.15 MX$54.1
82.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.68 โ‚ฌ1.44
$1.27 MX$21.88
32.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2K โ‚ฌ27.7K
$30.4K MX$521.3K
6.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K โ‚ฌ23.7K
$23.6K MX$404.5K
16.53%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beliลกฤ‡e
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 โ‚ฌ106
$83.0 MX$1,425
48.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.63 โ‚ฌ15.19
$22.71 MX$390
-22.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.57 โ‚ฌ22.90
$29.46 MX$506
-9.81%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Beliลกฤ‡e
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.03 โ‚ฌ22.43
$51.0 MX$875
-48.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.48 โ‚ฌ12.48
$18.33 MX$315
-21.00%
Cinema Ticket
$5.22 โ‚ฌ4.50
$4.93 MX$84.5
5.88%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Beliลกฤ‡e
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$349 โ‚ฌ301
$197 MX$3,386
76.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,796 โ‚ฌ2,409
$5,280 MX$90.6K
-47.04%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Beliลกฤ‡e
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$122 โ‚ฌ105
$36.90 MX$633
231.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.61 โ‚ฌ36.71
$39.89 MX$685
6.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$46.03 โ‚ฌ39.66
$80.0 MX$1,373
-42.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.4 โ‚ฌ50.4
$89.5 MX$1,536
-34.69%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Beliลกฤ‡e
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$190 โ‚ฌ164
$956 MX$16.4K
-80.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$469 โ‚ฌ404
$477 MX$8,189
-1.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$343 โ‚ฌ295
$1,646 MX$28.3K
-79.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$775 โ‚ฌ668
$1,225 MX$21.0K
-36.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,251 โ‚ฌ3,663
$3,918 MX$67.2K
8.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,189 โ‚ฌ1,024
$6,459 MX$110.9K
-81.59%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Beliลกฤ‡e
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,818 โ‚ฌ1,566
$667 MX$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 Beliลกฤ‡e: June 8, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $190 in Beliลกฤ‡e and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Beliลกฤ‡e pays 173% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $40.00 in Beliลกฤ‡e 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 Beliลกฤ‡e 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
Beliลกฤ‡e vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Beliลกฤ‡e and Playa del Carmen?
Beliลกฤ‡e and Playa del Carmen differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($1,235 vs $1,271 including rent). Beliลกฤ‡e is meaningfully more affordable โ€“ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Beliลกฤ‡e or Playa del Carmen?
Beliลกฤ‡e 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 Beliลกฤ‡e and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $190 in Beliลกฤ‡e 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 Beliลกฤ‡e and Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $349 in Beliลกฤ‡e 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 Beliลกฤ‡e versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Beliลกฤ‡e but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Beliลกฤ‡e the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Beliลกฤ‡e 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 Beliลกฤ‡e or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Beliลกฤ‡e 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: Beliลกฤ‡e or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Beliลกฤ‡e 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.

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