😐A single person spends $1,694 per month in Caceres vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,523 per month in Caceres vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,353 per month in Caceres vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Caceres costs about 35% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Caceres sits 27% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Caceres
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.04€14.89
$11.99MX$210
42.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.5€50.2
$41.78MX$731
37.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.33€8.15
$10.75MX$188
-13.21%
Cappuccino
$1.75€1.53
$3.50MX$61.1
-50.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18€1.91
$1.45MX$25.33
50.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.79
$0.88MX$15.47
132.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72€1.50
$2.95MX$51.6
-41.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38€2.95
$4.51MX$78.9
-25.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Caceres
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.19€1.04
$1.43MX$25.04
-16.78%
White Bread(500g)
$1.09€0.96
$1.84MX$32.13
-40.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58€1.38
$1.57MX$27.42
0.64%
Eggs
$2.02€1.77
$2.51MX$43.92
-19.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$22.53€19.69
$8.28MX$145
172.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.79€8.55
$8.43MX$147
16.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$23.06€20.15
$10.68MX$187
115.92%
Apples(1kg)
$2.88€2.52
$2.61MX$45.62
10.34%
Banana(1kg)
$2.24€1.96
$1.44MX$25.15
55.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96€1.72
$1.96MX$34.31
-
Tomato(1kg)
$4.20€3.67
$2.09MX$36.62
100.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86€1.63
$1.85MX$32.37
0.54%
Onion(1kg)
$2.06€1.80
$2.17MX$37.90
-5.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.94€1.70
$1.03MX$18.04
88.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40€0.35
$1.07MX$18.78
-62.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.46€5.64
$4.10MX$71.7
57.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.06€8.79
$10.17MX$178
-1.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.47€0.41
$1.68MX$29.29
-72.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79€1.57
$2.53MX$44.17
-29.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Caceres
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41€1.23
$0.51MX$8.90
176.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.25€30.80
$26.04MX$455
35.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.78€1.56
$3.23MX$56.5
-44.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.38€1.20
$2.41MX$42.06
-42.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.38€17.80
$3.23MX$56.5
530.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.81€1.58
$1.32MX$23.10
37.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.1K€33.3K
$29.7KMX$519.2K
28.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K€24.2K
$23.7KMX$413.7K
16.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Caceres
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$204€178
$82.0MX$1,434
148.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.04€14.89
$22.95MX$401
-25.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.99€20.09
$30.11MX$527
-23.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Caceres
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1€45.52
$52.0MX$909
0.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$2.34€2.04
$18.53MX$324
-87.37%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30€5.50
$4.98MX$87.0
26.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Caceres
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263€230
$197MX$3,452
33.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,918€6,044
$5,336MX$93.3K
29.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Caceres
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.5€57.3
$35.60MX$622
84.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.09€32.41
$40.33MX$705
-8.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.3€67.6
$78.8MX$1,377
-1.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.9€78.5
$88.9MX$1,555
1.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Caceres
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$843€737
$947MX$16.6K
-10.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$696€608
$474MX$8,288
46.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,336€1,167
$1,644MX$28.7K
-18.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,012€884
$1,211MX$21.2K
-16.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,353€2,929
$4,056MX$70.9K
-17.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,156€1,883
$6,470MX$113.1K
-66.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Caceres
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,175€1,900
$654MX$11.4K
232.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.38
11.42
-70.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Caceres: July 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $843 in Caceres versus $947 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 233% higher in Caceres, 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 $57.0 in Caceres versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $328 vs $249 – 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
Caceres vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Caceres or Playa del Carmen?
Caceres costs about 35% 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 Caceres and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,541 per month in Caceres and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Caceres 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.
How much does it cost to live in Caceres compared to Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,694 in Caceres and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Caceres compared to Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 35% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Caceres or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Caceres at $1,694. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Caceres it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Caceres or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,256 versus $1,694 in Caceres. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Caceres 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 Caceres 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, Caceres makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.