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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,910 per month in Bundaberg vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,933 per month in Bundaberg vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,955 per month in Bundaberg vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Bundaberg costs about 48% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Bundaberg sits 43% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bundaberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.99 A$22.38
$11.94 MX$209
33.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.1 A$89.8
$42.75 MX$748
49.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.23 A$11.52
$10.59 MX$185
-22.29%
Cappuccino
$3.54 A$4.95
$3.62 MX$63.4
-2.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 A$3.13
$1.47 MX$25.69
52.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 A$2.77
$0.94 MX$16.51
110.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.11 A$7.15
$3.09 MX$54.1
65.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.02 A$9.83
$4.46 MX$78.0
57.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bundaberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.13 A$2.98
$1.43 MX$24.94
48.95%
White Bread (500g)
$1.86 A$2.61
$1.88 MX$32.97
-1.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.07 A$4.30
$1.63 MX$28.50
88.34%
Eggs
$4.34 A$6.07
$2.64 MX$46.26
64.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.55 A$13.37
$8.21 MX$144
16.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.35 A$14.49
$8.29 MX$145
24.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.09 A$29.53
$11.10 MX$194
90.00%
Apples (1kg)
$3.26 A$4.57
$2.65 MX$46.40
23.02%
Banana (1kg)
$2.48 A$3.47
$1.50 MX$26.26
65.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.63 A$3.68
$1.99 MX$34.79
32.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.09 A$5.72
$2.08 MX$36.33
96.63%
Potato (1kg)
$2.98 A$4.18
$1.79 MX$31.29
66.48%
Onion (1kg)
$2.29 A$3.20
$2.18 MX$38.09
5.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.99 A$2.78
$1.08 MX$18.84
84.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.42 A$4.79
$1.04 MX$18.15
228.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$28.24 A$39.54
$3.97 MX$69.5
611.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.28 A$18.59
$10.20 MX$179
30.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$6.84 A$9.58
$1.73 MX$30.22
295.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.36 A$10.30
$2.50 MX$43.71
194.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Bundaberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.58 A$3.61
$0.52 MX$9.07
396.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$57.2 A$80.0
$26.97 MX$472
111.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.29 A$1.80
$3.14 MX$55.0
-58.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.17 A$4.43
$2.40 MX$42.04
32.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.30 A$46.62
$3.09 MX$54.0
977.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 A$1.66
$1.27 MX$22.28
-6.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K A$36.7K
$30.9K MX$540.4K
-15.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K A$37.0K
$23.3K MX$408.0K
13.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bundaberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$133 A$186
$82.0 MX$1,435
61.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.38 A$36.94
$22.45 MX$393
17.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.9 A$79.7
$29.66 MX$519
91.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bundaberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.09 A$36.52
$51.9 MX$908
-49.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.84 A$17.97
$18.67 MX$327
-31.23%
Cinema Ticket
$11.59 A$16.22
$4.97 MX$87.0
133.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bundaberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$456 A$639
$198 MX$3,462
130.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.0K A$26.6K
$5,273 MX$92.3K
259.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bundaberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.5 A$110
$36.34 MX$636
115.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$68.5 A$95.9
$40.05 MX$701
70.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$123 A$172
$79.9 MX$1,398
53.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148 A$208
$88.9 MX$1,555
66.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bundaberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$807 A$1,130
$963 MX$16.9K
-16.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$731 A$1,023
$465 MX$8,133
57.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,537 A$2,152
$1,596 MX$27.9K
-3.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,279 A$1,790
$1,209 MX$21.2K
5.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,875 A$8,226
$3,942 MX$69.0K
49.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,521 A$6,329
$6,448 MX$112.8K
-29.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bundaberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,799 A$3,919
$720 MX$12.6K
288.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.5
11.42
-43.08%

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

Last update for Bundaberg: April 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $807 in Bundaberg versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 289% higher in Bundaberg, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $64.0 in Bundaberg versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $413 vs $251 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Bundaberg vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bundaberg or Playa del Carmen?
Bundaberg costs about 48% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bundaberg vs Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,866 per month in Bundaberg and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bundaberg or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Bundaberg or Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 65% more in Bundaberg, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Bundaberg vs Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $64.0 in Bundaberg and $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Bundaberg or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,287, than in Bundaberg at $1,910. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bundaberg it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bundaberg or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,287 versus $1,910 in Bundaberg. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Bundaberg compared to Playa del Carmen?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Bundaberg or Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bundaberg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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