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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,035 per month in Buzias vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,584 per month in Buzias vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,134 per month in Buzias vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Buzias is about 21% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Buzias and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Buzias 25% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.93 RON 40.43

$11.96 MX$203

-25.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.40 RON 201

$47.38 MX$804

-6.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 RON 35.65

$11.75 MX$199

-33.02%

Cappuccino

$3.25 RON 14.73

$4.12 MX$70.0

-21.12%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 RON 9.96

$1.40 MX$23.74

57.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 RON 8.28

$0.91 MX$15.48

101.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.39 RON 15.37

$3.21 MX$54.4

5.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 RON 18.05

$7.07 MX$120

-43.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 RON 6.75

$1.68 MX$28.44

-11.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 RON 5.45

$2.15 MX$36.48

-44.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 RON 6.68

$1.77 MX$30.10

-16.95%

Eggs

$3.59 RON 16.25

$2.82 MX$47.76

27.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.27 RON 37.46

$9.20 MX$156

-10.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.11 RON 27.65

$9.23 MX$157

-33.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.30 RON 37.61

$12.64 MX$214

-34.34%

Apples (1kg)

$1.26 RON 5.72

$2.95 MX$50.1

-57.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 RON 7.17

$1.58 MX$26.79

Oranges (1kg)

$1.58 RON 7.16

$2.22 MX$37.70

-28.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.68 RON 12.14

$2.36 MX$40.09

13.56%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 RON 3.38

$1.99 MX$33.81

-62.31%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 RON 2.89

$1.98 MX$33.58

-67.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 RON 4.88

$1.24 MX$21.04

-12.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 RON 4.13

$1.21 MX$20.55

-24.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.29 RON 28.49

$4.60 MX$78.1

36.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.88 RON 35.70

$10.52 MX$178

-25.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 RON 4.46

$1.69 MX$28.70

-41.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 RON 6.43

$2.77 MX$47.06

-48.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 RON 3.58

$0.60 MX$10.22

31.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.80 RON 89.7

$29.70 MX$504

-33.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.97 RON 4.40

$5.24 MX$88.8

-81.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.87 RON 3.95

$3.65 MX$61.9

-76.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.05 RON 40.98

$5.78 MX$98.1

56.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.86 RON 8.43

$1.54 MX$26.09

20.78%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.1K RON 131.8K

$22.8K MX$386.8K

27.59%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.4K RON 119.5K

$25.8K MX$437.9K

2.21%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$120 RON 544

$90.7 MX$1,538

32.41%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.38 RON 42.50

$25.19 MX$427

-62.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.78 RON 57.9

$31.75 MX$539

-59.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.79 RON 162

$68.8 MX$1,167

-47.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.27 RON 101

$29.37 MX$498

-24.17%

Cinema Ticket

$7.05 RON 31.95

$4.86 MX$82.5

45.06%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$471 RON 2,133

$226 MX$3,828

108.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,039 RON 31.9K

$4,194 MX$71.1K

67.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.6 RON 361

$47.38 MX$804

68.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.50 RON 152

$43.45 MX$737

-22.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.5 RON 410

$80.2 MX$1,361

12.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.0 RON 430

$91.4 MX$1,550

3.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$397 RON 1,798

$1,086 MX$18.4K

-63.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$284 RON 1,287

$409 MX$6,933

-30.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$686 RON 3,107

$1,972 MX$33.5K

-65.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$539 RON 2,440

$1,281 MX$21.7K

-57.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,130 RON 9,645

$4,046 MX$68.6K

-47.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,438 RON 6,512

$6,704 MX$113.7K

-78.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$773 MX$13.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.02

11.45

-38.69%

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

Last update for Buzias: September 7, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $397 in Buzias 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Buzias versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $278 – making Buzias 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

Buzias vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 26%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,552 per month in Buzias and $1,958 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Buzias, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 50% less in Buzias. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $471 per month in Buzias and $226 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Buzias, where all-in costs run around $1,035, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Buzias it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Buzias – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Buzias. 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.