🙂A single person spends $1,152 per month in Burrel vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,722 per month in Burrel vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,292 per month in Burrel vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Burrel is about 9% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Burrel and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Burrel16% lower, Playa del Carmen7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Burrel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.24ALL 809
$11.60MX$200
-11.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.36ALL 3,189
$47.11MX$812
-14.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.70ALL 609
$11.88MX$205
-35.19%
Cappuccino
$1.98ALL 156
$3.98MX$68.6
-50.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97ALL 156
$1.43MX$24.60
37.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70ALL 55.5
$0.82MX$14.22
-14.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.47ALL 195
$3.19MX$55.0
-22.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42ALL 270
$6.79MX$117
-49.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Burrel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.08ALL 165
$1.68MX$28.89
23.81%
White Bread(500g)
$0.94ALL 74.1
$2.20MX$37.88
-57.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17ALL 171
$1.71MX$29.45
26.90%
Eggs
$2.68ALL 211
$2.74MX$47.26
-2.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.59ALL 837
$9.58MX$165
10.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.76ALL 692
$9.01MX$155
-2.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.29ALL 1,129
$12.81MX$221
11.55%
Apples(1kg)
$2.04ALL 161
$2.89MX$49.81
-29.41%
Banana(1kg)
$2.36ALL 187
$1.50MX$25.81
57.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.73ALL 137
$2.15MX$37.03
-19.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.66ALL 131
$2.26MX$38.96
-26.55%
Potato(1kg)
$1.12ALL 88.3
$1.98MX$34.15
-43.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.31ALL 103
$1.99MX$34.30
-34.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18ALL 93.4
$1.23MX$21.28
-4.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79ALL 62.8
$1.20MX$20.63
-34.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30ALL 340
$4.55MX$78.5
-5.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.99ALL 789
$10.37MX$179
-3.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83ALL 145
$1.62MX$27.91
12.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90ALL 150
$2.88MX$49.67
-34.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Burrel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.57ALL 45.23
$0.60MX$10.35
-5.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.87ALL 1,727
$28.80MX$497
-24.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.81ALL 301
$5.39MX$92.9
-29.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.87ALL 306
$3.73MX$64.3
3.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.14ALL 1,512
$5.77MX$99.5
231.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.18ALL 173
$1.54MX$26.48
41.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1KALL 2.8M
$22.5KMX$388.8K
55.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4KALL 2.0M
$26.1KMX$449.3K
-2.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Burrel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$62.9ALL 4,965
$91.4MX$1,576
-31.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.85ALL 1,331
$25.20MX$435
-33.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.36ALL 976
$31.24MX$539
-60.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Burrel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.0ALL 4,820
$67.2MX$1,159
-9.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.11MX$502
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.75ALL 692
$4.86MX$83.8
80.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Burrel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$99.4ALL 7,849
$224MX$3,856
-55.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$4,229MX$72.9K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Burrel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.2ALL 4,048
$47.10MX$812
8.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.5ALL 4,538
$44.29MX$764
29.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101ALL 7,995
$80.1MX$1,381
26.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$151ALL 12.0K
$92.7MX$1,598
63.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Burrel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$493ALL 39.0K
$1,063MX$18.3K
-53.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$339ALL 26.8K
$390MX$6,728
-13.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$725ALL 57.3K
$2,149MX$37.1K
-66.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$480ALL 37.9K
$1,272MX$21.9K
-62.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,898ALL 149.9K
$4,001MX$69.0K
-52.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,281ALL 101.2K
$6,502MX$112.1K
-80.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Burrel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$758MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
11.45
-56.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Burrel: September 14, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $493 in Burrel versus $1,063 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Burrel versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $261 vs $276 – making Burrel 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
Burrel vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Burrel or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen costs about 10% more than Burrel, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 Burrel and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,728 per month in Burrel and $1,899 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Burrel or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Burrel, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Burrel and in Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $99.4 per month in Burrel and $224 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Burrel or in Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 6% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Burrel or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Burrel, where all-in costs run around $1,152, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Burrel it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Burrel or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Burrel costs $1,152 versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Burrel 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 Burrel or to Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Burrel. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.