Cost of Living Comparison Between Bocas del Toro and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Bocas del Toro and Playa del Carmen

🙂 Solo nomad: Bocas del Toro is 22.2% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 14.9% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Bocas del Toro is 21.8% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 15.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bocas del Toro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.58 PAB 9.58
$11.85 MX$209
-19.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.60 PAB 49.60
$42.16 MX$744
17.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.17 PAB 10.17
$10.75 MX$190
-5.40%
Cappuccino
$4.09 PAB 4.09
$3.47 MX$61.3
17.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 PAB 1.73
$1.45 MX$25.65
19.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 PAB 1.61
$0.90 MX$15.93
78.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.02 PAB 2.02
$3.05 MX$53.9
-33.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08 PAB 4.08
$4.42 MX$77.9
-7.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bocas del Toro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$1.37 MX$24.17
-
White Bread (500g)
$3.83 PAB 3.83
$1.87 MX$33.05
104.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$1.54 MX$27.25
-
Eggs
$2.56 PAB 2.56
$2.50 MX$44.18
2.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.92 PAB 16.92
$8.61 MX$152
96.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.89 PAB 8.89
$8.63 MX$152
3.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.32 PAB 8.32
$11.02 MX$195
-24.50%
Apples (1kg)
$4.51 PAB 4.51
$2.75 MX$48.53
64.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 PAB 1.52
$1.43 MX$25.21
6.29%
Oranges (1kg)
-
$1.87 MX$33.05
-
Tomato (1kg)
$5.10 PAB 5.10
$2.17 MX$38.26
135.02%
Potato (1kg)
$3.29 PAB 3.29
$1.88 MX$33.23
75.00%
Onion (1kg)
-
$2.25 MX$39.65
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.07 MX$18.85
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 PAB 1.58
$1.07 MX$18.95
47.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.15 MX$73.3
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$10.34 MX$182
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 PAB 2.81
$1.68 MX$29.64
67.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 PAB 2.49
$2.48 MX$43.84
0.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Bocas del Toro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.55 MX$9.80
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.53 MX$468
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.22 MX$56.8
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.48 MX$43.80
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.11 MX$54.9
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$1.26 MX$22.16
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$30.7K MX$541.1K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$24.0K MX$424.3K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bocas del Toro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$82.5 MX$1,456
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.69 PAB 29.69
$22.29 MX$393
33.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.87 PAB 34.87
$30.02 MX$530
16.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bocas del Toro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$51.4 MX$908
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.29 MX$323
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.98 MX$88.0
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bocas del Toro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$200 MX$3,530
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$5,304 MX$93.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bocas del Toro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$35.71 MX$630
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$39.56 MX$698
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$80.6 MX$1,422
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$88.3 MX$1,559
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bocas del Toro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$740 PAB 740
$969 MX$17.1K
-23.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$895 PAB 895
$482 MX$8,511
85.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 PAB 1,221
$1,595 MX$28.2K
-23.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,186 PAB 1,186
$1,184 MX$20.9K
0.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,050 MX$71.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,522 MX$115.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bocas del Toro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 PAB 703
$756 MX$13.4K
-7.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
11.42
-

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

Last update for Bocas del Toro: March 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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