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

šŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Bocas del Toro is 28.5% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 11.1% more expensive with rent.
šŸ™‚ Family of 3: Bocas del Toro is 13.5% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 15.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
šŸ½ Eating Out
Bocas del Toro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.40 PABĀ 9.40
$11.61 MX$200
-19.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.6 PABĀ 50.6
$42.75 MX$738
18.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.09 PABĀ 10.09
$10.60 MX$183
-4.81%
Cappuccino
$4.05 PABĀ 4.05
$3.59 MX$62.0
12.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 PABĀ 1.80
$1.45 MX$25.08
24.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 PABĀ 1.66
$0.90 MX$15.50
84.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.96 PABĀ 1.96
$3.03 MX$52.4
-35.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 PABĀ 3.88
$4.56 MX$78.8
-14.91%
šŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Bocas del Toro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$1.45 MX$25.07
-
White Bread (500g)
$3.97 PABĀ 3.97
$1.83 MX$31.55
116.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$1.61 MX$27.77
-
Eggs
$2.59 PABĀ 2.59
$2.54 MX$43.82
1.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.20 PABĀ 17.20
$8.54 MX$148
101.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.71 PABĀ 8.71
$8.47 MX$146
2.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.10 PABĀ 8.10
$10.86 MX$188
-25.41%
Apples (1kg)
$4.55 PABĀ 4.55
$2.73 MX$47.13
66.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 PABĀ 1.47
$1.49 MX$25.77
-1.34%
Oranges (1kg)
-
$1.94 MX$33.55
-
Tomato (1kg)
$5.03 PABĀ 5.03
$2.16 MX$37.38
132.87%
Potato (1kg)
$3.34 PABĀ 3.34
$1.85 MX$31.88
80.54%
Onion (1kg)
-
$2.19 MX$37.80
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.07 MX$18.52
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 PABĀ 1.58
$1.08 MX$18.71
46.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.06 MX$70.1
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$10.46 MX$181
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 PABĀ 2.90
$1.65 MX$28.56
75.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56 PABĀ 2.56
$2.55 MX$44.01
0.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Bocas del Toro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.56 MX$9.60
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.20 MX$453
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.14 MX$54.2
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.37 MX$40.96
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.24 MX$56.0
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$1.31 MX$22.70
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$30.5K MX$527.4K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.8K MX$411.4K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bocas del Toro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$83.1 MX$1,436
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.17 PABĀ 30.17
$22.15 MX$383
36.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.64 PABĀ 35.64
$29.37 MX$507
21.35%
šŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Bocas del Toro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$51.2 MX$884
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.69 MX$323
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.89 MX$84.4
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bocas del Toro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$199 MX$3,431
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$5,207 MX$89.9K
-
šŸ‘•šŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Bocas del Toro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$35.93 MX$621
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$39.39 MX$680
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$80.3 MX$1,387
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$87.6 MX$1,512
-
šŸ  Accommodation & Living
Bocas del Toro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$744 PABĀ 744
$963 MX$16.6K
-22.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$896 PABĀ 896
$482 MX$8,326
85.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,188 PABĀ 1,188
$1,645 MX$28.4K
-27.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 PABĀ 1,209
$1,192 MX$20.6K
1.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,957 MX$68.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,513 MX$112.5K
-
šŸ’µ Salaries & Financials
Bocas del Toro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$712 PABĀ 712
$726 MX$12.5K
-2.03%
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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026

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

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