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 $1,115 per month in Boroko vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,539 per month in Boroko vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,963 per month in Boroko vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Boroko is about 14% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Boroko and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Boroko 17% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.03 PGK 35.01

$11.73 MX$203

-31.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.81 PGK 169

$41.62 MX$720

-6.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.94 PGK 25.89

$10.64 MX$184

-44.17%

Cappuccino

$2.26 PGK 9.87

$3.52 MX$60.9

-35.80%

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

$0.81 PGK 3.54

$1.51 MX$26.12

-46.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 PGK 3.63

$0.97 MX$16.84

-14.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.45 PGK 10.67

$2.95 MX$51.0

-16.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.17 PGK 18.18

$4.45 MX$77.0

-6.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 PGK 7.11

$1.38 MX$23.93

18.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 PGK 5.67

$1.89 MX$32.72

-31.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 PGK 5.59

$1.64 MX$28.32

-21.95%

Eggs

$3.93 PGK 17.16

$2.51 MX$43.34

56.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.56 PGK 19.88

$8.34 MX$144

-45.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.11 PGK 26.64

$8.34 MX$144

-26.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.12 PGK 31.06

$10.73 MX$186

-33.64%

Apples (1kg)

$4.09 PGK 17.85

$2.60 MX$45.04

57.31%

Banana (1kg)

$2.96 PGK 12.91

$1.46 MX$25.20

102.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.90 PGK 12.64

$1.90 MX$32.87

52.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.90 PGK 12.63

$2.08 MX$35.91

39.42%

Potato (1kg)

$3.19 PGK 13.89

$1.78 MX$30.71

79.21%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 PGK 4.01

$2.19 MX$37.80

-57.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 PGK 5.30

$1.04 MX$17.99

17.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 PGK 2.18

$1.08 MX$18.62

-53.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.07 PGK 26.50

$4.08 MX$70.6

48.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.12 PGK 22.34

$10.32 MX$178

-50.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 PGK 5.11

$1.71 MX$29.61

-31.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 PGK 7.13

$2.58 MX$44.54

-36.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.49 PGK 2.15

$0.51 MX$8.81

-3.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.68 PGK 138

$26.46 MX$458

19.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.78 PGK 20.87

$3.26 MX$56.4

46.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 PGK 6.58

$2.49 MX$43.09

-39.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.91 PGK 51.9

$3.25 MX$56.2

266.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 PGK 3.84

$1.31 MX$22.61

-32.82%

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

$22.5K PGK 98.0K

$30.3K MX$523.7K

-25.80%

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

$24.5K PGK 107.0K

$23.4K MX$405.3K

4.69%

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

$67.8 PGK 296

$82.9 MX$1,433

-18.23%

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

$46.77 PGK 204

$22.22 MX$384

110.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$239 PGK 1,042

$29.34 MX$507

714.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.41 PGK 202

$51.6 MX$893

-10.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.91 PGK 69.4

$18.32 MX$317

-13.16%

Cinema Ticket

$7.07 PGK 30.83

$5.07 MX$87.6

39.45%

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

$363 PGK 1,584

$201 MX$3,473

80.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,369 PGK 10.3K

$5,212 MX$90.1K

-54.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.80 PGK 139

$36.92 MX$639

-13.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.15 PGK 61.7

$39.79 MX$688

-64.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.86 PGK 209

$78.5 MX$1,357

-38.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.78 PGK 126

$87.1 MX$1,506

-66.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,646 PGK 15.9K

$973 MX$16.8K

274.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$241 PGK 1,053

$468 MX$8,090

-48.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,574 PGK 15.6K

$1,641 MX$28.4K

117.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 PGK 1,044

$1,221 MX$21.1K

-80.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$369 PGK 1,608

$664 MX$11.5K

-44.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

-3.68%

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

Last update for Boroko: June 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,646 in Boroko versus $973 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 80% 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 $39.00 in Boroko versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $222 vs $249 – 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 16% more than Boroko, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,673 per month in Boroko and $1,945 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 $363 per month in Boroko and $201 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 12% 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 $1,115, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. 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 $1,115 versus $1,297 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.