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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $93.0 per month in Borama vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $241 per month in Borama vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $390 per month in Borama vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Borama is about 93% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Borama and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Borama 93% lower, Playa del Carmen 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.94 MX$208

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.75 MX$744

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.59 MX$184

Cappuccino

$3.62 MX$63.0

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

$1.47 MX$25.54

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 MX$16.41

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 MX$53.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 MX$77.6

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 SOS 578

$1.43 MX$24.80

-29.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.79

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 MX$28.34

Eggs

$2.93 SOS 1,678

$2.64 MX$45.99

10.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.21 MX$143

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.94 SOS 1,683

$8.29 MX$144

-64.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.10 MX$193

Apples (1kg)

$1.98 SOS 1,131

$2.65 MX$46.14

-25.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 SOS 584

$1.50 MX$26.11

-32.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.59

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.13

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 MX$31.11

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$37.87

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MX$18.73

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 MX$18.04

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.97 MX$69.1

Wine (Bottle)

$10.20 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.04

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 MX$43.46

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 MX$9.02

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.97 MX$469

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 MX$54.7

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.80

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 MX$53.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 MX$22.16

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

$30.9K MX$537.3K

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

$23.3K MX$405.7K

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

$82.0 MX$1,427

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

$22.45 MX$391

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.66 MX$516

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 MX$903

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$325

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 MX$86.5

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

$198 MX$3,442

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,273 MX$91.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.34 MX$632

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.05 MX$697

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 MX$1,390

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,547

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$58.9 SOS 33.7K

$963 MX$16.8K

-93.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$39.39 SOS 22.5K

$465 MX$8,086

-91.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$296 SOS 169.5K

$1,596 MX$27.8K

-81.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$252 SOS 144.0K

$1,209 MX$21.0K

-79.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,054 SOS 5.2M

$3,942 MX$68.6K

129.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$44.7K SOS 25.6M

$6,448 MX$112.2K

593.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$393 SOS 224.5K

$720 MX$12.5K

-45.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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

Last update for Borama: April 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $58.9 in Borama versus $963 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 84% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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

Borama vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $93.0 in Borama, $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 1284% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $139 per month in Borama and $1,930 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 Borama, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $93.0 in Borama and $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 377% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Borama, where all-in costs run around $93.0, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Borama 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 $93.0 in Borama to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Borama. 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.