😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,416 in Bexley versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,552 in Bexley versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,688 in Bexley versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Bexley is roughly 86% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Bexley is 80% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bexley
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.62£15.36
$11.73MX$203
75.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.2£59.0
$41.62MX$719
90.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.41£7.76
$10.64MX$184
-2.16%
Cappuccino
$4.66£3.47
$3.52MX$60.8
32.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22£1.65
$1.51MX$26.09
47.02%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79£1.33
$0.97MX$16.82
84.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.21£6.12
$2.95MX$51.0
178.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.57£5.64
$4.45MX$77.0
70.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bexley
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79£1.33
$1.38MX$23.90
29.71%
White Bread(500g)
$1.69£1.26
$1.89MX$32.69
-10.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.56£1.91
$1.64MX$28.29
56.10%
Eggs
$5.03£3.75
$2.51MX$43.30
100.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.07£8.25
$8.34MX$144
32.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.00£6.71
$8.34MX$144
7.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.23£10.60
$10.73MX$185
32.62%
Apples(1kg)
$3.47£2.59
$2.60MX$45.00
33.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55£1.16
$1.46MX$25.18
6.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.26£2.43
$1.90MX$32.84
71.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.62£2.70
$2.08MX$35.88
74.04%
Potato(1kg)
$1.67£1.25
$1.78MX$30.68
-6.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85£1.37
$2.19MX$37.76
-15.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05£0.78
$1.04MX$17.97
0.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.97£1.47
$1.08MX$18.60
82.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$19.75£14.71
$4.08MX$70.5
384.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.10£8.27
$10.32MX$178
7.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.25£2.42
$1.71MX$29.59
90.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03£3.00
$2.58MX$44.50
56.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Bexley
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.40£2.53
$0.51MX$8.81
566.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$89.4£66.6
$26.46MX$457
237.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.48£4.08
$3.26MX$56.4
68.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59£1.18
$2.49MX$43.05
-36.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.82£25.19
$3.25MX$56.1
940.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.92£1.43
$1.31MX$22.59
46.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.4K£28.6K
$30.3KMX$523.2K
26.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1K£29.2K
$23.4KMX$404.9K
67.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bexley
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$324£242
$82.9MX$1,432
291.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.07£13.46
$22.22MX$384
-18.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.98£32.02
$29.34MX$507
46.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bexley
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.74£34.82
$51.6MX$892
-9.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.32MX$317
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.67£10.93
$5.07MX$87.5
189.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bexley
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,815£1,352
$201MX$3,470
803.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$27.9K£20.8K
$5,212MX$90.1K
435.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bexley
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102£75.8
$36.92MX$638
175.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.95£35.72
$39.79MX$688
20.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.1£70.1
$78.5MX$1,356
19.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121£89.8
$87.1MX$1,505
38.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bexley
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,205£898
$973MX$16.8K
23.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,008£751
$468MX$8,082
115.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,032£1,514
$1,641MX$28.4K
23.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,725£1,285
$1,221MX$21.1K
41.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,424£3,296
$3,946MX$68.2K
12.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,498MX$112.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bexley
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,450£1,826
$664MX$11.5K
269.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.05
11.42
-55.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bexley: June 2, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,205 in Bexley and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bexley pays 269% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $79.0 in Bexley vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $327 vs $249 per month, with Playa del Carmen 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
Bexley vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bexley or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 86% lower than in Bexley. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Bexley or Playa del Carmen?
Bexley pays 269% 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bexley vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,205 in Bexley versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Bexley vs Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 238% less than in Bexley. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Bexley and Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $1,815 in Bexley versus $201 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Bexley or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,416 in Bexley, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Bexley. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bexley or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,297 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Bexley compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Bexley 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 86% less than in Bexley. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.