Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,202 a month against $2,674 in Broome, WA, rent and utilities included – about $17,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Broome, WA, Australia
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Broome, WA
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,674
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,202
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Broome, WA and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Broome, WA and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,674 in Broome, WA versus $1,202 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Broome, WA $2,674
  • Playa del Carmen $1,202

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,424 in Broome, WA versus $2,082 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Broome, WA $4,424
  • Playa del Carmen $2,082

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,173 in Broome, WA versus $2,962 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Broome, WA $6,173
  • Playa del Carmen $2,962

Living in Broome, WA is roughly 122% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Broome, WA is 98% above, Playa del Carmen is 11% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Broome, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.42 A$30.66
$10.67 MX$199
100.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$83.8 A$120
$43.80 MX$815
91.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$21.41 A$30.65
$11.79 MX$219
81.59%
Cappuccino
$5.34 A$7.65
$3.79 MX$70.5
40.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 A$5.59
$1.30 MX$24.14
200.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 A$3.12
$0.83 MX$15.51
162.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.34 A$11.94
$3.15 MX$58.6
164.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.21 A$10.33
$4.93 MX$91.8
46.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Broome, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.82 A$4.04
$1.41 MX$26.22
100.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.68 A$3.84
$2.20 MX$40.86
21.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 A$3.21
$1.47 MX$27.40
52.38%
Eggs
$4.84 A$6.93
$2.50 MX$46.46
93.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.11 A$13.05
$7.29 MX$136
24.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.70 A$13.88
$7.95 MX$148
22.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.95 A$21.40
$12.86 MX$239
16.25%
Apples (1kg)
$4.44 A$6.36
$2.90 MX$53.9
53.10%
Banana (1kg)
$3.27 A$4.67
$1.38 MX$25.74
136.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.26 A$6.10
$2.49 MX$46.35
71.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.56 A$7.96
$2.03 MX$37.77
173.89%
Potato (1kg)
$3.46 A$4.95
$2.02 MX$37.68
71.29%
Onion (1kg)
$3.22 A$4.61
$1.90 MX$35.42
69.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.62 A$5.18
$1.14 MX$21.30
217.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 A$2.28
$1.24 MX$23.05
28.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$31.77 A$45.48
$4.27 MX$79.5
644.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.81 A$25.50
$9.81 MX$183
81.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.64 A$6.64
$1.59 MX$29.51
191.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.16 A$7.39
$2.75 MX$51.1
87.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Broome, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.83 A$4.05
$0.51 MX$9.58
454.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$84.6 A$121
$27.39 MX$510
208.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.52 A$5.04
$4.76 MX$88.6
-26.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.63 A$2.33
$3.25 MX$60.5
-49.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$69.3 A$99.3
$5.39 MX$100
1186.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.66 A$2.37
$1.53 MX$28.44
8.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K A$40.8K
$21.2K MX$394.8K
34.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.9K A$32.8K
$23.3K MX$432.9K
-1.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Broome, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$205 A$293
$83.5 MX$1,554
145.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.98 A$40.06
$23.19 MX$431
20.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.54 A$69.5
$27.61 MX$514
75.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Broome, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.0 A$78.8
$56.4 MX$1,050
-2.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.09 A$23.03
$28.19 MX$525
-42.92%
Cinema Ticket
$17.24 A$24.68
$5.00 MX$93.1
244.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Broome, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,067 A$1,527
$207 MX$3,854
415.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.4K A$29.2K
$5,231 MX$97.3K
290.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Broome, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107 A$153
$43.45 MX$809
146.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$70.9 A$101
$42.54 MX$792
66.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$157 A$224
$72.8 MX$1,354
115.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 A$179
$88.4 MX$1,645
41.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Broome, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,484 A$2,125
$995 MX$18.5K
49.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,199 A$1,716
$382 MX$7,116
213.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,979 A$4,265
$1,674 MX$31.2K
77.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,885 A$4,130
$1,081 MX$20.1K
167.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,948 A$8,515
$3,909 MX$72.7K
52.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,059 A$7,243
$6,138 MX$114.2K
-17.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Broome, WA
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,918 A$5,609
$832 MX$15.5K
370.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.9
11.45
-48.47%

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

Last update for Broome, WA: November 2, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Broome, WA
$1.2K
Playa del Carmen
$382 68.1% $816
Groceries & Markets
Broome, WA
$410
Playa del Carmen
$257 37.3% $153
Eating Out
Broome, WA
$380
Playa del Carmen
$200 47.3% $180
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Broome, WA
$281
Playa del Carmen
$134 52.3% $147
Clothing & Footwear
Broome, WA
$207
Playa del Carmen
$111 46.2% $96
Getting Around
Broome, WA
$108
Playa del Carmen
$50 53.1% $57
Sport & Entertainment
Broome, WA
$90
Playa del Carmen
$66 25.8% $23

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,484 in Broome, WA and $995 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Broome, WA pays about 4.7 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $84 in Broome, WA vs $44 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $410 vs $257 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Broome, WA
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
05:46 5:46 AM
16:46 4:46 PM
13 h behind Broome, WA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
14,660
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD (1 AUD = 0.699 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 AUD (1 AUD = 0.625 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 18.61 MXN (100 MXN = 5.37 USD). 1 EUR = 20.81 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Broome, WA Playa del Carmen 16,930 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Broome, WA
  • Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $2,674 in Broome, WA and $1,202 in Playa del Carmen, so Playa del Carmen is about 55% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Broome, WA or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay in Broome, WA is about 4.7 times higher, 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: $1,484 in Broome, WA versus $995 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 $2,674 per month in Broome, WA versus $1,202 in Playa del Carmen – Playa del Carmen is about 55% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How do commuting costs compare in Broome, WA and in Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 68% less than in Broome, WA. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,202 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,674 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.
Where should expats move: Broome, WA or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% 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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