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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $199 in Brikama versus $1,239 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $174 in Brikama versus $2,168 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $150 in Brikama versus $3,096 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Brikama costs roughly 84% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Brikama 85% lower, Playa del Carmen 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.25 GMD 461

$11.17 MX$203

-44.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.61 MX$810

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.91 MX$216

Cappuccino

$3.81 MX$69.3

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

$0.70 GMD 51.8

$1.38 MX$24.97

-49.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 MX$14.46

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 MX$56.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.97 MX$90.2

Milk (1 liter)

$1.51 MX$27.42

White Bread (500g)

$2.25 MX$40.77

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 MX$27.35

Eggs

$2.39 GMD 176

$2.46 MX$44.73

-2.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.50 MX$136

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.07 MX$146

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.08 MX$238

Apples (1kg)

$2.83 MX$51.5

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 MX$26.78

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 MX$48.90

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$37.75

Potato (1kg)

$1.96 MX$35.52

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 MX$36.51

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 GMD 26.22

$1.21 MX$21.97

-70.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 MX$22.34

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.46 MX$81.0

Wine (Bottle)

$9.98 MX$181

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 MX$29.62

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 MX$50.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 GMD 24.20

$0.58 MX$10.50

-43.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.28 MX$514

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.85 MX$88.1

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.50 MX$63.5

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.65 MX$103

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 MX$26.43

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

$21.4K MX$388.4K

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

$24.0K MX$435.6K

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

$86.3 MX$1,568

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

$23.96 MX$435

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.93 MX$525

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.6 MX$1,174

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.07 MX$528

Cinema Ticket

$5.13 MX$93.1

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

$211 MX$3,838

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,045 MX$73.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.23 MX$803

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.35 MX$787

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.9 MX$1,396

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.4 MX$1,605

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$996 MX$18.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 GMD 10.1K

$379 MX$6,874

-64.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$273 GMD 20.2K

$1,767 MX$32.1K

-84.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,127 MX$20.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,010 MX$72.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,392 MX$116.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$768 MX$14.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

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

Last update for Brikama: September 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 27, 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

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

Brikama is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear. The 524% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $298 in Brikama and $1,859 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2297% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $199 per month in Brikama versus $1,239 in Playa del Carmen – a 524% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $199 in Brikama versus $1,239 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Brikama but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Brikama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Brikama is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Brikama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 524% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.