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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,067 per month in Beppu vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,564 per month in Beppu vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,061 per month in Beppu vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Beppu is about 18% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Beppu and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Beppu 20% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beppu
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.89 ¥1,102
$11.73 MX$203
-41.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.47 ¥4,234
$41.62 MX$721
-36.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.77 ¥763
$10.64 MX$184
-55.17%
Cappuccino
$3.14 ¥502
$3.52 MX$61.0
-10.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07 ¥171
$1.51 MX$26.17
-29.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 ¥133
$0.97 MX$16.87
-14.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.45 ¥552
$2.95 MX$51.1
16.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.65 ¥744
$4.45 MX$77.2
4.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beppu
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 ¥252
$1.38 MX$23.97
13.77%
White Bread (500g)
$1.59 ¥254
$1.89 MX$32.78
-15.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.20 ¥672
$1.64 MX$28.37
156.10%
Eggs
$1.60 ¥257
$2.51 MX$43.42
-36.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.80 ¥1,568
$8.34 MX$145
17.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.04 ¥966
$8.34 MX$145
-27.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.06 ¥1,769
$10.73 MX$186
3.08%
Apples (1kg)
$3.16 ¥505
$2.60 MX$45.12
21.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.36 ¥217
$1.46 MX$25.25
-6.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.12 ¥660
$1.90 MX$32.94
116.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.62 ¥739
$2.08 MX$35.98
122.12%
Potato (1kg)
$2.83 ¥453
$1.78 MX$30.77
58.99%
Onion (1kg)
$2.46 ¥393
$2.19 MX$37.87
12.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.96 ¥154
$1.04 MX$18.02
-7.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 ¥130
$1.08 MX$18.66
-25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.75 ¥600
$4.08 MX$70.7
-8.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.07 ¥972
$10.32 MX$179
-41.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64 ¥262
$1.71 MX$29.67
-4.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 ¥296
$2.58 MX$44.63
-28.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Beppu
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.71 ¥434
$0.51 MX$8.83
431.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.56 ¥5,527
$26.46 MX$459
30.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.53 ¥725
$3.26 MX$56.5
38.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.88 ¥460
$2.49 MX$43.17
15.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.31 ¥3,089
$3.25 MX$56.3
494.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ¥199
$1.31 MX$22.65
-4.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.5K ¥2.0M
$30.3K MX$524.7K
-58.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.1K ¥2.7M
$23.4K MX$406.0K
-27.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beppu
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$160 ¥25.6K
$82.9 MX$1,436
93.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.13 ¥2,261
$22.22 MX$385
-36.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.09 ¥4,973
$29.34 MX$508
5.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beppu
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.29 ¥7,884
$51.6 MX$895
-4.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.54 ¥567
$18.32 MX$317
-80.68%
Cinema Ticket
$7.02 ¥1,123
$5.07 MX$87.8
38.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beppu
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$210 ¥33.6K
$201 MX$3,480
4.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.5K ¥2.2M
$5,212 MX$90.3K
159.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beppu
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.75 ¥4,918
$36.92 MX$640
-16.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.52 ¥3,922
$39.79 MX$689
-38.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.0 ¥10.7K
$78.5 MX$1,360
-14.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.23 ¥6,754
$87.1 MX$1,509
-51.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beppu
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$345 ¥55.1K
$973 MX$16.9K
-64.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$246 ¥39.4K
$468 MX$8,105
-47.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$619 ¥99.0K
$1,641 MX$28.4K
-62.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$412 ¥65.9K
$1,221 MX$21.2K
-66.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,203 ¥672.2K
$3,946 MX$68.4K
6.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,394 ¥383.0K
$6,498 MX$112.6K
-63.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beppu
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,339 ¥214.1K
$664 MX$11.5K
101.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
1.67
11.42
-85.38%

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

Last update for Beppu: May 30, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $345 in Beppu versus $973 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.

Salaries run about 102% higher in Beppu, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Beppu versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $262 in Beppu 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
Beppu vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Beppu or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen costs about 22% more than Beppu, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Beppu vs Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,600 per month in Beppu and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Beppu or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Beppu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Beppu compared to Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,067 in Beppu and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Beppu vs Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 31% less in Beppu. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Beppu or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Beppu, where all-in costs run around $1,067, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Beppu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Beppu or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Beppu costs $1,067 versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Beppu compared to Playa del Carmen?
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.
Should I move to Beppu or Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Beppu. 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.

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