Cost of Living Comparison Between Belmopan and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Belmopan and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,138 per month in Belmopan vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,612 per month in Belmopan vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,086 per month in Belmopan vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Belmopan is about 9% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Belmopan and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Belmopan 15% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.86 BZD 9.72

$11.99 MX$210

-59.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.79 BZD 33.58

$41.78 MX$733

-59.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.26 BZD 14.52

$10.75 MX$189

-32.47%

Cappuccino

$4.42 BZD 8.83

$3.50 MX$61.3

26.29%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 BZD 1.55

$1.45 MX$25.41

-46.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 BZD 0.95

$0.88 MX$15.52

-45.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 BZD 2.92

$2.95 MX$51.7

-50.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 BZD 4.41

$4.51 MX$79.1

-51.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.01 BZD 4.02

$1.43 MX$25.12

40.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 BZD 3.20

$1.84 MX$32.23

-13.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 BZD 3.33

$1.57 MX$27.51

5.73%

Eggs

$1.89 BZD 3.77

$2.51 MX$44.06

-24.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.03 BZD 18.06

$8.28 MX$145

9.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.73 BZD 13.46

$8.43 MX$148

-20.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.03 BZD 24.07

$10.68 MX$187

12.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 MX$45.76

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 BZD 2.16

$1.44 MX$25.22

-25.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 BZD 4.45

$1.96 MX$34.41

13.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.39 BZD 10.77

$2.09 MX$36.74

157.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 MX$32.47

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$38.02

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 MX$18.09

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 BZD 3.02

$1.07 MX$18.84

41.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MX$72.0

Wine (Bottle)

$17.24 BZD 34.49

$10.17 MX$178

69.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 BZD 4.60

$1.68 MX$29.38

36.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 BZD 4.56

$2.53 MX$44.31

-9.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.03 BZD 8.05

$0.51 MX$8.93

690.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$457

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.01 BZD 6.03

$3.23 MX$56.7

-6.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.94 BZD 5.87

$2.41 MX$42.19

21.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.76 BZD 3.52

$1.32 MX$23.17

33.33%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.7K MX$520.9K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.7K MX$415.0K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$148 BZD 296

$82.0 MX$1,439

80.53%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$50.6 BZD 101

$22.95 MX$403

120.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.36 BZD 72.7

$30.11 MX$528

20.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.80 BZD 89.6

$52.0 MX$912

-13.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$325

Cinema Ticket

$8.99 BZD 17.99

$4.98 MX$87.3

80.52%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$197 MX$3,463

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$93.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.37 BZD 78.8

$35.60 MX$624

10.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.21 BZD 44.43

$40.33 MX$707

-44.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.17 BZD 98.4

$78.8 MX$1,381

-37.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.7 BZD 125

$88.9 MX$1,560

-29.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$446 BZD 893

$947 MX$16.6K

-52.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 BZD 640

$474 MX$8,314

-32.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 MX$28.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$545 BZD 1,090

$1,211 MX$21.2K

-55.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$71.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$113.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 MX$11.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Belmopan: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $446 in Belmopan versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Belmopan versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $258 in Belmopan vs $249 in Playa del Carmen – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Belmopan vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,138 in Belmopan, $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 10% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,707 per month in Belmopan and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Belmopan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Belmopan and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,138 in Belmopan and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Belmopan, where all-in costs run around $1,138, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Belmopan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,138 in Belmopan to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Belmopan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.