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 $1,058 per month in Belmopan vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,543 per month in Belmopan vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,027 per month in Belmopan vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Belmopan is about 18% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Belmopan and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Belmopan 23% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.69 BZD 15.38

$11.71 MX$199

-34.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.39 BZD 34.79

$46.59 MX$791

-62.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.42 BZD 14.84

$11.65 MX$198

-36.31%

Cappuccino

$5.38 BZD 10.76

$4.09 MX$69.5

31.54%

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

$0.64 BZD 1.29

$1.37 MX$23.34

-53.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 BZD 0.96

$0.83 MX$14.16

-42.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.45 BZD 2.89

$3.35 MX$56.9

-56.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 BZD 4.45

$6.91 MX$117

-67.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.37 BZD 4.75

$1.73 MX$29.33

36.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.68 BZD 3.35

$2.26 MX$38.39

-25.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 BZD 3.36

$1.77 MX$30.05

-5.08%

Eggs

$1.89 BZD 3.78

$2.73 MX$46.41

-30.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.80 BZD 17.61

$9.18 MX$156

-4.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.68 BZD 13.36

$8.92 MX$151

-25.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.23 BZD 24.47

$12.60 MX$214

-2.94%

Apples (1kg)

$3.02 MX$51.3

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 BZD 2.23

$1.57 MX$26.68

-29.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.24 BZD 4.48

$2.13 MX$36.10

5.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.35 BZD 10.71

$2.26 MX$38.46

136.73%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 MX$34.04

Onion (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.06

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 MX$20.04

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.45

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.63 MX$78.7

Wine (Bottle)

$17.34 BZD 34.69

$10.69 MX$182

62.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 BZD 4.46

$1.62 MX$27.50

37.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 BZD 4.51

$2.88 MX$48.93

-21.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.03 BZD 8.05

$0.57 MX$9.74

607.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.83 MX$507

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 BZD 6.56

$5.45 MX$92.5

-39.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.03 BZD 8.06

$3.70 MX$62.9

8.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 MX$102

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.84 BZD 3.67

$1.55 MX$26.38

18.71%

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

$22.3K MX$379.2K

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

$25.9K MX$440.7K

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

$151 BZD 301

$89.1 MX$1,514

68.87%

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

$49.74 BZD 99.5

$25.04 MX$425

98.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.59 BZD 77.2

$31.50 MX$535

22.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.71 BZD 89.4

$67.8 MX$1,151

-34.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.92 MX$491

Cinema Ticket

$9.09 BZD 18.18

$5.05 MX$85.8

80.00%

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

$225 MX$3,820

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,222 MX$71.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.44 MX$806

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.98 MX$764

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 MX$1,392

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.1 MX$1,564

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$457 BZD 914

$1,069 MX$18.2K

-57.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$319 BZD 638

$405 MX$6,884

-21.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,935 MX$32.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 BZD 1,109

$1,301 MX$22.1K

-57.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,995 MX$67.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,626 MX$112.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$749 MX$12.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

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

Last update for Belmopan: August 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $457 in Belmopan versus $1,069 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $277 – making Belmopan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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: $1,058 in Belmopan, $1,293 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 22% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,587 per month in Belmopan and $1,940 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 $47.00 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 $1,058 in Belmopan and $1,293 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 $1,058, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. 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 $1,058 in Belmopan to $1,293 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.