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 $1,109 per month in Buzias vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,706 per month in Buzias vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,304 per month in Buzias vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Buzias is about 14% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Buzias and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Buzias 17% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.65 RON 52.7

$11.73 MX$203

-0.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.5 RON 256

$41.62 MX$720

35.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.11 RON 36.67

$10.64 MX$184

-23.78%

Cappuccino

$3.34 RON 15.11

$3.52 MX$60.9

-5.11%

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

$2.41 RON 10.87

$1.51 MX$26.12

59.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 RON 9.99

$0.97 MX$16.84

127.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.24 RON 14.66

$2.95 MX$51.0

9.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.01 RON 18.14

$4.45 MX$77.0

-9.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 RON 7.83

$1.38 MX$23.93

25.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.34 RON 6.05

$1.89 MX$32.72

-29.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.82 RON 8.23

$1.64 MX$28.32

10.98%

Eggs

$3.21 RON 14.52

$2.51 MX$43.34

27.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.74 RON 44.05

$8.34 MX$144

16.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.05 RON 31.86

$8.34 MX$144

-15.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.93 RON 53.9

$10.73 MX$186

11.18%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 RON 5.37

$2.60 MX$45.04

-54.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 RON 7.83

$1.46 MX$25.20

18.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 RON 7.34

$1.90 MX$32.87

-14.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.34 RON 10.57

$2.08 MX$35.91

12.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 RON 4.23

$1.78 MX$30.71

-47.19%

Onion (1kg)

$0.96 RON 4.36

$2.19 MX$37.80

-56.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 RON 4.68

$1.04 MX$17.99

-0.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 RON 4.05

$1.08 MX$18.62

-16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.24 RON 28.22

$4.08 MX$70.6

52.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.43 RON 38.12

$10.32 MX$178

-18.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 RON 5.21

$1.71 MX$29.61

-32.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 RON 8.93

$2.58 MX$44.54

-23.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.66 RON 2.97

$0.51 MX$8.81

29.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.15 RON 91.1

$26.46 MX$458

-23.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.99 RON 4.49

$3.26 MX$56.4

-69.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.87 RON 3.93

$2.49 MX$43.09

-65.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.26 RON 41.87

$3.25 MX$56.2

184.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.72 RON 7.76

$1.31 MX$22.61

31.30%

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

$28.2K RON 127.4K

$30.3K MX$523.7K

-6.95%

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

$26.3K RON 118.7K

$23.4K MX$405.3K

12.12%

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

$157 RON 708

$82.9 MX$1,433

89.03%

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

$8.82 RON 39.88

$22.22 MX$384

-60.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.86 RON 44.57

$29.34 MX$507

-66.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.49 RON 188

$51.6 MX$893

-19.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.85 RON 85.2

$18.32 MX$317

2.89%

Cinema Ticket

$7.87 RON 35.59

$5.07 MX$87.6

55.23%

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

$476 RON 2,151

$201 MX$3,473

136.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K RON 48.0K

$5,212 MX$90.1K

103.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.0 RON 317

$36.92 MX$639

89.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.34 RON 182

$39.79 MX$688

1.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.9 RON 388

$78.5 MX$1,357

9.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.0 RON 443

$87.1 MX$1,506

12.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 RON 1,747

$973 MX$16.8K

-60.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$295 RON 1,332

$468 MX$8,090

-37.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$587 RON 2,656

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-64.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 RON 1,954

$1,221 MX$21.1K

-64.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,909 RON 8,628

$3,946 MX$68.3K

-51.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,539 RON 6,955

$6,498 MX$112.4K

-76.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.85

11.42

-48.77%

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

Last update for Buzias: June 2, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $387 in Buzias versus $973 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 $57.0 in Buzias versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $232 in Buzias vs $249 in Playa del Carmen – so Buzias wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 17%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,663 per month in Buzias and $1,945 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 31% less in Buzias. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $476 per month in Buzias and $201 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 $1,109, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. 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.