🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $342 in Budaun versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $543 in Budaun versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $744 in Budaun versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Budaun costs roughly 74% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Budaun74% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Budaun
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08₹199
$11.73MX$203
-82.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.70₹1,119
$41.62MX$721
-71.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.95₹282
$10.64MX$184
-72.27%
Cappuccino
$0.60₹57.7
$3.52MX$61.0
-82.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29₹27.81
$1.51MX$26.17
-80.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.13₹12.79
$0.97MX$16.87
-86.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.52₹146
$2.95MX$51.1
-48.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70₹162
$4.45MX$77.2
-61.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Budaun
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.68₹64.6
$1.38MX$23.97
-50.72%
White Bread(500g)
$0.33₹31.94
$1.89MX$32.78
-82.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.59₹56.6
$1.64MX$28.37
-64.02%
Eggs
$0.72₹69.0
$2.51MX$43.42
-71.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.23₹405
$8.34MX$145
-49.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.28₹218
$8.34MX$145
-72.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$10.73MX$186
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.19₹114
$2.60MX$45.12
-54.23%
Banana(1kg)
$0.48₹45.93
$1.46MX$25.25
-67.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.60₹57.3
$1.90MX$32.94
-68.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.48₹46.31
$2.08MX$35.98
-76.92%
Potato(1kg)
$0.26₹25.08
$1.78MX$30.77
-85.39%
Onion(1kg)
$0.33₹32.02
$2.19MX$37.87
-84.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.11₹10.56
$1.04MX$18.02
-89.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32₹30.34
$1.08MX$18.66
-70.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.61₹250
$4.08MX$70.7
-36.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$2.59₹248
$10.32MX$179
-74.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44₹137
$1.71MX$29.67
-15.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29₹219
$2.58MX$44.63
-11.24%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$3.40₹326
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Budaun
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.28₹26.73
$0.51MX$8.83
-45.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.79₹841
$26.46MX$459
-66.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.56₹53.4
$3.26MX$56.5
-82.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.11₹10.48
$2.49MX$43.17
-95.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.18₹113
$3.25MX$56.3
-63.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18₹113
$1.31MX$22.65
-9.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$5,769₹552.0K
$30.3KMX$524.7K
-80.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.5K₹1.6M
$23.4KMX$406.0K
-29.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budaun
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$50.1₹4,795
$82.9MX$1,436
-39.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.20₹306
$22.22MX$385
-85.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.39₹516
$29.34MX$508
-81.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Budaun
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$16.21₹1,551
$51.6MX$895
-68.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.20₹689
$18.32MX$317
-60.70%
Cinema Ticket
$2.99₹286
$5.07MX$87.8
-41.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Budaun
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$35.96₹3,441
$201MX$3,480
-82.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,538₹147.1K
$5,212MX$90.3K
-70.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Budaun
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.11₹2,212
$36.92MX$640
-37.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.70₹2,938
$39.79MX$689
-22.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$39.93₹3,821
$78.5MX$1,360
-49.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$18.77₹1,796
$87.1MX$1,509
-78.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Budaun
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$122₹11.7K
$973MX$16.9K
-87.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$75.1₹7,183
$468MX$8,105
-83.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$271₹26.0K
$1,641MX$28.4K
-83.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$180₹17.3K
$1,221MX$21.2K
-85.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,069₹102.3K
$3,946MX$68.4K
-72.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$498₹47.7K
$6,498MX$112.6K
-92.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Budaun
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$664MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.49
11.42
-25.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Budaun: May 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $122 in Budaun and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $12.00 in Budaun vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $76.0 vs $249 per month, with Budaun 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
Budaun vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Budaun?
Budaun is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 279% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $514 in Budaun and $1,945 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.
What is the rent difference between Budaun and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $122 in Budaun versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Budaun runs roughly 201% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $35.96 in Budaun versus $201 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Budaun or Playa del Carmen?
At $342 in Budaun versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Budaun but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Budaun the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Budaun or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Budaun 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Budaun gentler on the wallet – expenses run 279% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.