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: $2,716 in Broome, WA versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,558 in Broome, WA versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,399 in Broome, WA versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Broome, WA is roughly 115% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Broome, WA is 99% above, Playa del Carmen is 7% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Broome, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.47 A$30.27
$11.60 MX$200
85.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.3 A$122
$47.11 MX$812
83.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$21.59 A$30.45
$11.88 MX$205
81.73%
Cappuccino
$5.26 A$7.42
$3.98 MX$68.6
32.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90 A$5.50
$1.43 MX$24.60
172.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 A$3.15
$0.82 MX$14.22
171.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.43 A$11.89
$3.19 MX$55.0
164.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.60 A$10.71
$6.79 MX$117
11.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Broome, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.95 A$4.15
$1.68 MX$28.89
75.60%
White Bread (500g)
$2.64 A$3.72
$2.20 MX$37.88
20.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.33 A$3.28
$1.71 MX$29.45
36.26%
Eggs
$5.10 A$7.19
$2.74 MX$47.26
86.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.90 A$13.96
$9.58 MX$165
3.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.72 A$13.70
$9.01 MX$155
7.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.85 A$20.95
$12.81 MX$221
15.93%
Apples (1kg)
$4.74 A$6.69
$2.89 MX$49.81
64.01%
Banana (1kg)
$3.37 A$4.75
$1.50 MX$25.81
124.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.19 A$5.91
$2.15 MX$37.03
94.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.37 A$7.58
$2.26 MX$38.96
137.61%
Potato (1kg)
$3.50 A$4.93
$1.98 MX$34.15
76.77%
Onion (1kg)
$3.15 A$4.44
$1.99 MX$34.30
58.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.71 A$5.24
$1.23 MX$21.28
201.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 A$2.30
$1.20 MX$20.63
35.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$33.39 A$47.09
$4.55 MX$78.5
633.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.01 A$25.40
$10.37 MX$179
73.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.81 A$6.78
$1.62 MX$27.91
196.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.62 A$7.92
$2.88 MX$49.67
95.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Broome, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.19 A$4.50
$0.60 MX$10.35
431.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$87.0 A$123
$28.80 MX$497
201.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.64 A$5.13
$5.39 MX$92.9
-32.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.67 A$2.36
$3.73 MX$64.3
-55.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$71.5 A$101
$5.77 MX$99.5
1139.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.74 A$2.45
$1.54 MX$26.48
12.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9K A$40.7K
$22.5K MX$388.8K
28.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K A$33.2K
$26.1K MX$449.3K
-9.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Broome, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$209 A$295
$91.4 MX$1,576
128.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.62 A$40.37
$25.20 MX$435
13.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.2 A$70.8
$31.24 MX$539
60.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Broome, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.2 A$79.3
$67.2 MX$1,159
-16.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.04 A$22.62
$29.11 MX$502
-44.90%
Cinema Ticket
$17.55 A$24.75
$4.86 MX$83.8
261.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Broome, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,101 A$1,552
$224 MX$3,856
392.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.4K A$28.8K
$4,229 MX$72.9K
382.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Broome, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$112 A$157
$47.10 MX$812
136.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$71.9 A$101
$44.29 MX$764
62.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$158 A$223
$80.1 MX$1,381
97.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 A$183
$92.7 MX$1,598
39.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Broome, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,516 A$2,137
$1,063 MX$18.3K
42.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,214 A$1,712
$390 MX$6,728
211.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,052 A$4,304
$2,149 MX$37.1K
42.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,932 A$4,135
$1,272 MX$21.9K
130.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,339 A$8,940
$4,001 MX$69.0K
58.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,209 A$7,346
$6,502 MX$112.1K
-19.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Broome, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,902 A$5,502
$758 MX$13.1K
414.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.87
11.45
-48.73%

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

Last update for Broome, WA: September 14, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,516 in Broome, WA and $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Broome, WA pays 415% 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: $86.0 in Broome, WA vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $418 vs $276 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Broome, WA and Playa del Carmen differ by about 115% in total monthly costs ($2,716 vs $1,266 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?
Average pay runs 415% higher in Broome, WA, 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,516 in Broome, WA versus $1,063 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 $2,716 per month in Broome, WA versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen – a 115% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Broome, WA and in Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 202% 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 $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,716 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 115% less than in Broome, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Broome, WA vs other spots: cost of living compared

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