🙂A single person spends $1,085 per month in Burrel vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,635 per month in Burrel vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,185 per month in Burrel vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Burrel is about 14% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Burrel and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Burrel19% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Burrel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.35ALL 760
$11.72MX$203
-20.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.00ALL 3,006
$41.89MX$725
-11.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.04ALL 572
$10.51MX$182
-33.02%
Cappuccino
$1.87ALL 152
$3.59MX$62.0
-47.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56ALL 127
$1.51MX$26.10
3.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86ALL 70.1
$0.92MX$15.83
-6.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.30ALL 187
$2.96MX$51.2
-22.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33ALL 270
$4.41MX$76.3
-24.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Burrel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.06ALL 167
$1.40MX$24.16
47.14%
White Bread(500g)
$0.91ALL 73.9
$1.88MX$32.60
-51.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.95ALL 158
$1.56MX$26.97
25.00%
Eggs
$3.00ALL 244
$2.61MX$45.14
14.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.15ALL 825
$8.32MX$144
22.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.92ALL 644
$8.35MX$145
-5.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.37ALL 1,086
$10.86MX$188
23.11%
Apples(1kg)
$1.82ALL 148
$2.71MX$46.93
-32.84%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35ALL 191
$1.51MX$26.04
55.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.65ALL 134
$1.87MX$32.41
-11.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38ALL 112
$2.19MX$37.89
-36.99%
Potato(1kg)
$1.05ALL 85.5
$1.86MX$32.14
-43.55%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18ALL 95.8
$2.23MX$38.59
-47.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.15ALL 93.5
$1.07MX$18.48
7.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78ALL 63.2
$1.09MX$18.79
-28.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96ALL 322
$4.19MX$72.4
-5.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.87ALL 802
$10.43MX$180
-5.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66ALL 135
$1.66MX$28.68
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73ALL 141
$2.61MX$45.19
-33.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Burrel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.46ALL 37.32
$0.54MX$9.37
-14.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.10ALL 1,552
$26.16MX$453
-26.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.56ALL 289
$3.08MX$53.3
15.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.05ALL 248
$2.40MX$41.61
27.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.79ALL 1,446
$3.13MX$54.1
468.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.13ALL 173
$1.31MX$22.69
62.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2KALL 2.8M
$29.8KMX$515.7K
14.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9KALL 2.1M
$23.3KMX$403.5K
10.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Burrel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$67.2ALL 5,459
$81.3MX$1,406
-17.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.15ALL 1,394
$22.56MX$390
-23.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.72ALL 1,277
$30.05MX$520
-47.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Burrel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.1ALL 4,556
$52.9MX$915
5.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.20ALL 2,048
$18.39MX$318
37.03%
Cinema Ticket
$8.21ALL 667
$4.92MX$85.1
66.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Burrel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.7ALL 7,696
$201MX$3,474
-52.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,175MX$89.5K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Burrel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.00ALL 3,900
$35.92MX$622
33.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.1ALL 4,310
$40.13MX$694
32.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.5ALL 7,757
$79.7MX$1,379
19.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142ALL 11.5K
$86.5MX$1,496
64.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Burrel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$445ALL 36.2K
$978MX$16.9K
-54.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$349ALL 28.3K
$470MX$8,140
-25.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$614ALL 49.9K
$1,651MX$28.6K
-62.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$432ALL 35.1K
$1,203MX$20.8K
-64.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,804ALL 146.6K
$3,953MX$68.4K
-54.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,212ALL 98.5K
$6,607MX$114.3K
-81.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Burrel
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$677MX$11.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
11.42
-64.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Burrel: July 27, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $445 in Burrel versus $978 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 $37.00 in Burrel versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $247 vs $252 – 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 16% 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 $1,627 per month in Burrel and $1,890 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 $94.7 per month in Burrel and $201 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 2% 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 $1,085, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. 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 $1,085 versus $1,260 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.