Cost of Living Comparison Between Broome, WA and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Broome, WA and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,116 in Broome, WA versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,596 in Broome, WA versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,077 in Broome, WA versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Broome, WA is roughly 64% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Broome, WA is 58% above, Playa del Carmen is 4% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Broome, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.28 A$22.63
$11.94 MX$208
36.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$132 A$184
$42.75 MX$744
209.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.63 A$13.39
$10.59 MX$184
-9.07%
Cappuccino
$4.80 A$6.68
$3.62 MX$63.0
32.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97 A$5.52
$1.47 MX$25.54
170.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 A$3.10
$0.94 MX$16.41
137.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.95 A$11.05
$3.09 MX$53.8
157.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.71 A$9.33
$4.46 MX$77.6
50.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Broome, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 A$1.97
$1.43 MX$24.80
-0.70%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 A$2.56
$1.88 MX$32.79
-2.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.75 A$3.83
$1.63 MX$28.34
68.71%
Eggs
$5.89 A$8.18
$2.64 MX$45.99
123.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.60 A$11.96
$8.21 MX$143
4.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.98 A$12.48
$8.29 MX$144
8.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.71 A$19.05
$11.10 MX$193
23.51%
Apples (1kg)
$4.29 A$5.97
$2.65 MX$46.14
61.89%
Banana (1kg)
$2.05 A$2.85
$1.50 MX$26.11
36.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.50 A$4.87
$1.99 MX$34.59
75.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.67 A$7.88
$2.08 MX$36.13
172.60%
Potato (1kg)
$2.66 A$3.70
$1.79 MX$31.11
48.60%
Onion (1kg)
$2.32 A$3.23
$2.18 MX$37.87
6.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.46 A$3.42
$1.08 MX$18.73
127.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 A$2.12
$1.04 MX$18.04
46.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$29.13 A$40.50
$3.97 MX$69.1
633.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.35 A$19.94
$10.20 MX$178
40.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.69 A$6.52
$1.73 MX$30.04
171.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.27 A$7.32
$2.50 MX$43.46
110.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Broome, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.57 A$3.57
$0.52 MX$9.02
394.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.0 A$91.7
$26.97 MX$469
144.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.42 A$10.31
$3.14 MX$54.7
136.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.60 A$2.22
$2.40 MX$41.80
-33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.01 A$45.89
$3.09 MX$53.7
968.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 A$2.11
$1.27 MX$22.16
19.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8K A$40.0K
$30.9K MX$537.3K
-6.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K A$28.8K
$23.3K MX$405.7K
-11.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Broome, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$186 A$258
$82.0 MX$1,427
126.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.75 A$38.57
$22.45 MX$391
23.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.83 A$63.7
$29.66 MX$516
54.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Broome, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.27 A$67.1
$51.9 MX$903
-6.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.42 A$21.44
$18.67 MX$325
-17.41%
Cinema Ticket
$16.34 A$22.71
$4.97 MX$86.5
228.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Broome, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,615 A$2,244
$198 MX$3,442
716.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K A$16.5K
$5,273 MX$91.7K
124.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Broome, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.8 A$92.9
$36.34 MX$632
83.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.6 A$70.4
$40.05 MX$697
26.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 A$141
$79.9 MX$1,390
26.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 A$150
$88.9 MX$1,547
21.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Broome, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,125 A$1,564
$963 MX$16.8K
16.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$904 A$1,256
$465 MX$8,086
94.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,373 A$3,299
$1,596 MX$27.8K
48.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,115 A$2,940
$1,209 MX$21.0K
74.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,051 A$8,411
$3,942 MX$68.6K
53.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,075 A$7,054
$6,448 MX$112.2K
-21.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Broome, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,013 A$5,578
$720 MX$12.5K
456.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.34
11.42
-44.48%

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

Last update for Broome, WA: April 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,125 in Broome, WA and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Broome, WA pays 457% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $132 in Broome, WA vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $359 vs $251 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

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
Broome, WA vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Broome, WA and Playa del Carmen?
Broome, WA and Playa del Carmen differ by about 64% in total monthly costs ($2,116 vs $1,287 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Broome, WA or Playa del Carmen?
Broome, WA pays 457% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Broome, WA and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,125 in Broome, WA versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Broome, WA or Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,116 per month in Broome, WA versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – a 64% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Broome, WA and Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 145% less than in Broome, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,116 in Broome, WA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Broome, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Broome, WA and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Broome, WA or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Broome, WA and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Broome, WA or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Broome, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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