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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $898 per month in Boroko vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,289 per month in Boroko vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,680 per month in Boroko vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Boroko is about 31% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Boroko and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Boroko 35% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.21 PGK 31.27

$11.96 MX$203

-39.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.26 PGK 157

$47.38 MX$804

-23.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.77 PGK 25.04

$11.75 MX$199

-50.89%

Cappuccino

$2.45 PGK 10.65

$4.12 MX$70.0

-40.53%

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

$0.77 PGK 3.36

$1.40 MX$23.74

-45.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 PGK 2.84

$0.91 MX$15.48

-28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.77 PGK 12.03

$3.21 MX$54.4

-13.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 PGK 16.11

$7.07 MX$120

-47.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 PGK 6.80

$1.68 MX$28.44

-6.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.18 PGK 5.12

$2.15 MX$36.48

-45.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 PGK 5.38

$1.77 MX$30.10

-29.94%

Eggs

$3.68 PGK 15.96

$2.82 MX$47.76

30.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.21 PGK 22.59

$9.20 MX$156

-43.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.23 PGK 22.68

$9.23 MX$157

-43.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.47 PGK 28.10

$12.64 MX$214

-48.81%

Apples (1kg)

$4.03 PGK 17.48

$2.95 MX$50.1

36.61%

Banana (1kg)

$3.10 PGK 13.45

$1.58 MX$26.79

96.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.80 PGK 12.15

$2.22 MX$37.70

26.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.79 PGK 12.11

$2.36 MX$40.09

18.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.99 PGK 12.97

$1.99 MX$33.81

50.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.86 PGK 3.72

$1.98 MX$33.58

-56.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 PGK 4.86

$1.24 MX$21.04

-9.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 PGK 2.00

$1.21 MX$20.55

-61.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.70 PGK 24.74

$4.60 MX$78.1

23.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.03 PGK 21.85

$10.52 MX$178

-52.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 PGK 4.77

$1.69 MX$28.70

-34.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 PGK 7.06

$2.77 MX$47.06

-41.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 PGK 2.05

$0.60 MX$10.22

-21.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.65 PGK 133

$29.70 MX$504

3.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.58 PGK 19.89

$5.24 MX$88.8

-12.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 PGK 5.73

$3.65 MX$61.9

-63.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.29 PGK 48.99

$5.78 MX$98.1

95.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 PGK 3.51

$1.54 MX$26.09

-47.40%

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

$21.0K PGK 91.2K

$22.8K MX$386.8K

-7.86%

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

$17.9K PGK 77.6K

$25.8K MX$437.9K

-30.75%

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

$64.0 PGK 278

$90.7 MX$1,538

-29.41%

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

$23.80 PGK 103

$25.19 MX$427

-5.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$92.3 PGK 401

$31.75 MX$539

190.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.35 PGK 188

$68.8 MX$1,167

-36.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.52 PGK 63.0

$29.37 MX$498

-50.56%

Cinema Ticket

$6.61 PGK 28.68

$4.86 MX$82.5

36.01%

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

$337 PGK 1,462

$226 MX$3,828

49.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,276 PGK 9,876

$4,194 MX$71.1K

-45.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.26 PGK 144

$47.38 MX$804

-29.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.70 PGK 59.4

$43.45 MX$737

-68.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.48 PGK 197

$80.2 MX$1,361

-43.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.86 PGK 117

$91.4 MX$1,550

-70.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,436 PGK 14.9K

$1,086 MX$18.4K

216.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$224 PGK 974

$409 MX$6,933

-45.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,317 PGK 14.4K

$1,972 MX$33.5K

68.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$223 PGK 968

$1,281 MX$21.7K

-82.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,046 MX$68.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,704 MX$113.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$365 PGK 1,582

$773 MX$13.1K

-52.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

-3.93%

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

Last update for Boroko: September 7, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,436 in Boroko versus $1,086 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 112% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Boroko versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $212 vs $278 – making Boroko the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Playa del Carmen costs about 45% more than Boroko, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,348 per month in Boroko and $1,958 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 Boroko, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $337 per month in Boroko and $226 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 31% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Boroko, where all-in costs run around $898, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Boroko it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Boroko costs $898 versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Boroko. 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.