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 $1,120 per month in Boroko vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,557 per month in Boroko vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,995 per month in Boroko vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Boroko is about 11% 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 16% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.78 PGK 34.23

$11.99 MX$210

-35.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.91 PGK 167

$41.78 MX$733

-9.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.83 PGK 25.65

$10.75 MX$189

-45.77%

Cappuccino

$2.26 PGK 9.94

$3.50 MX$61.3

-35.43%

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

$0.74 PGK 3.27

$1.45 MX$25.41

-48.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 PGK 3.55

$0.88 MX$15.52

-7.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.38 PGK 10.48

$2.95 MX$51.7

-19.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.13 PGK 18.18

$4.51 MX$79.1

-8.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 PGK 7.48

$1.43 MX$25.12

18.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 PGK 5.75

$1.84 MX$32.23

-28.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 PGK 5.82

$1.57 MX$27.51

-15.92%

Eggs

$3.84 PGK 16.92

$2.51 MX$44.06

52.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.31 PGK 18.96

$8.28 MX$145

-47.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.35 PGK 27.93

$8.43 MX$148

-24.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.98 PGK 30.71

$10.68 MX$187

-34.64%

Apples (1kg)

$4.10 PGK 18.04

$2.61 MX$45.76

57.09%

Banana (1kg)

$2.80 PGK 12.32

$1.44 MX$25.22

94.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.03 PGK 13.32

$1.96 MX$34.41

54.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.86 PGK 12.60

$2.09 MX$36.74

36.84%

Potato (1kg)

$3.06 PGK 13.47

$1.85 MX$32.47

65.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 PGK 4.07

$2.17 MX$38.02

-57.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 PGK 5.22

$1.03 MX$18.09

15.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 PGK 2.19

$1.07 MX$18.84

-53.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.88 PGK 25.89

$4.10 MX$72.0

43.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.16 PGK 22.70

$10.17 MX$178

-49.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 PGK 5.42

$1.68 MX$29.38

-26.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 PGK 7.60

$2.53 MX$44.31

-31.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 PGK 2.21

$0.51 MX$8.93

-1.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.82 PGK 140

$26.04 MX$457

22.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.83 PGK 21.26

$3.23 MX$56.7

49.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 PGK 6.35

$2.41 MX$42.19

-40.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.97 PGK 52.7

$3.23 MX$56.6

270.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 PGK 3.77

$1.32 MX$23.17

-34.85%

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

$22.5K PGK 98.9K

$29.7K MX$520.9K

-24.28%

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

$24.2K PGK 106.4K

$23.7K MX$415.0K

2.23%

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

$66.3 PGK 292

$82.0 MX$1,439

-19.14%

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

$48.00 PGK 211

$22.95 MX$403

109.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$245 PGK 1,076

$30.11 MX$528

712.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.74 PGK 197

$52.0 MX$912

-13.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.49 PGK 68.2

$18.53 MX$325

-16.41%

Cinema Ticket

$7.14 PGK 31.43

$4.98 MX$87.3

43.37%

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

$361 PGK 1,589

$197 MX$3,463

82.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,361 PGK 10.4K

$5,336 MX$93.6K

-55.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.74 PGK 140

$35.60 MX$624

-10.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.69 PGK 64.6

$40.33 MX$707

-63.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.45 PGK 209

$78.8 MX$1,381

-39.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.24 PGK 124

$88.9 MX$1,560

-68.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,624 PGK 15.9K

$947 MX$16.6K

282.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$236 PGK 1,037

$474 MX$8,314

-50.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,612 PGK 15.9K

$1,644 MX$28.8K

119.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 PGK 1,045

$1,211 MX$21.2K

-80.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$71.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$113.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$360 PGK 1,584

$654 MX$11.5K

-44.94%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,624 in Boroko versus $947 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 82% 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 $38.00 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 12% 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 $1,679 per month in Boroko and $1,884 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 $361 per month in Boroko and $197 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 $1,120, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. 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 $1,120 versus $1,256 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.