😐A single person spends $2,156 per month in Bundaberg vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,265 per month in Bundaberg vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,374 per month in Bundaberg vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Bundaberg costs about 65% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Bundaberg sits 56% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bundaberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.86A$24.90
$11.96MX$203
49.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.4A$98.2
$47.38MX$804
48.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64A$14.84
$11.75MX$199
-9.45%
Cappuccino
$3.88A$5.41
$4.12MX$70.0
-5.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29A$3.19
$1.40MX$23.74
63.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26A$3.15
$0.91MX$15.48
148.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.05A$11.23
$3.21MX$54.4
150.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.57A$10.55
$7.07MX$120
7.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bundaberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.17A$3.03
$1.68MX$28.44
29.17%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40A$3.34
$2.15MX$36.48
11.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.42A$4.77
$1.77MX$30.10
93.22%
Eggs
$4.71A$6.57
$2.82MX$47.76
67.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.40A$14.50
$9.20MX$156
13.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.10A$14.09
$9.23MX$157
9.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$23.16A$32.28
$12.64MX$214
83.23%
Apples(1kg)
$3.61A$5.03
$2.95MX$50.1
22.37%
Banana(1kg)
$2.71A$3.78
$1.58MX$26.79
71.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.83A$3.94
$2.22MX$37.70
27.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.48A$6.25
$2.36MX$40.09
89.83%
Potato(1kg)
$3.27A$4.56
$1.99MX$33.81
64.32%
Onion(1kg)
$2.54A$3.54
$1.98MX$33.58
28.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.20A$3.07
$1.24MX$21.04
77.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.56A$3.57
$1.21MX$20.55
111.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$30.83A$42.98
$4.60MX$78.1
570.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.40A$18.68
$10.52MX$178
27.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$7.89A$11.01
$1.69MX$28.70
366.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.76A$10.82
$2.77MX$47.06
180.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Bundaberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.16A$4.41
$0.60MX$10.22
426.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$62.0A$86.4
$29.70MX$504
108.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.60A$5.02
$5.24MX$88.8
-31.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.67A$2.32
$3.65MX$61.9
-54.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$41.75A$58.2
$5.78MX$98.1
622.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31A$1.83
$1.54MX$26.09
-14.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0KA$40.5K
$22.8KMX$386.8K
27.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.9KA$43.1K
$25.8KMX$437.9K
19.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bundaberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$141A$197
$90.7MX$1,538
55.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.28A$39.42
$25.19MX$427
12.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.0A$83.6
$31.75MX$539
88.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bundaberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.4A$78.6
$68.8MX$1,167
-18.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.56A$25.87
$29.37MX$498
-36.81%
Cinema Ticket
$13.17A$18.36
$4.86MX$82.5
170.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bundaberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,201A$3,068
$226MX$3,828
875.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$21.1KA$29.4K
$4,194MX$71.1K
403.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bundaberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$111A$155
$47.38MX$804
135.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$75.9A$106
$43.45MX$737
74.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$151A$211
$80.2MX$1,361
88.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$164A$228
$91.4MX$1,550
78.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bundaberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$882A$1,230
$1,086MX$18.4K
-18.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$819A$1,142
$409MX$6,933
100.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,679A$2,341
$1,972MX$33.5K
-14.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,335A$1,862
$1,281MX$21.7K
4.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,649A$9,270
$4,046MX$68.6K
64.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,146A$7,174
$6,704MX$113.7K
-23.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bundaberg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,865A$3,994
$773MX$13.1K
270.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6
11.45
-47.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bundaberg: September 6, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $882 in Bundaberg versus $1,086 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 270% 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 $70.0 in Bundaberg versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $434 vs $278 – 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 65% 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 and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,235 per month in Bundaberg and $1,958 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 56% 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 and in Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Bundaberg and $47.00 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 in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,305, than in Bundaberg at $2,156. 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 $1,305 versus $2,156 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 to 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.