😐A single person spends $1,838 per month in Cadiz vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,355 per month in Cadiz vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,872 per month in Cadiz vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Cadiz costs about 43% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Cadiz sits 37% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cadiz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.80€11.81
$11.94MX$209
15.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.77€34.90
$42.75MX$748
-4.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.14€7.83
$10.59MX$185
-13.69%
Cappuccino
$2.20€1.88
$3.62MX$63.4
-39.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20€1.89
$1.47MX$25.69
49.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62€1.39
$0.94MX$16.51
72.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.39€2.90
$3.09MX$54.1
9.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41€2.92
$4.46MX$78.0
-23.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cadiz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.93
$1.43MX$24.94
-23.78%
White Bread(500g)
$1.38€1.18
$1.88MX$32.97
-26.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.35€1.16
$1.63MX$28.50
-17.18%
Eggs
$2.10€1.79
$2.64MX$46.26
-20.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.95€12.80
$8.21MX$144
82.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.76€6.64
$8.29MX$145
-6.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.24€12.19
$11.10MX$194
28.29%
Apples(1kg)
$2.13€1.82
$2.65MX$46.40
-19.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$1.50MX$26.26
31.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.58€1.36
$1.99MX$34.79
-20.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.64€1.40
$2.08MX$36.33
-21.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.00€0.86
$1.79MX$31.29
-44.13%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.55
$2.18MX$38.09
-16.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.16€1.00
$1.08MX$18.84
7.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72€0.61
$1.04MX$18.15
-30.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.40€5.48
$3.97MX$69.5
61.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.03€5.16
$10.20MX$179
-40.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18€1.01
$1.73MX$30.22
-31.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46€2.10
$2.50MX$43.71
-1.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Cadiz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.26€1.08
$0.52MX$9.07
142.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$54.2€46.39
$26.97MX$472
100.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02€2.59
$3.14MX$55.0
-3.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.05€0.90
$2.40MX$42.04
-56.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.91€17.90
$3.09MX$54.0
576.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.74€1.49
$1.27MX$22.28
37.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K€25.8K
$30.9KMX$540.4K
-2.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K€26.1K
$23.3KMX$408.0K
30.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cadiz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$135€116
$82.0MX$1,435
65.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.20€7.87
$22.45MX$393
-59.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.21€25.01
$29.66MX$519
-1.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cadiz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.70€39.98
$51.9MX$908
-9.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.90€5.91
$18.67MX$327
-63.04%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19€7.87
$4.97MX$87.0
84.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cadiz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$314€269
$198MX$3,462
58.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,073€3,487
$5,273MX$92.3K
-22.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cadiz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.8€70.0
$36.34MX$636
125.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.74€34.02
$40.05MX$701
-0.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.3€72.2
$79.9MX$1,398
5.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115€98.8
$88.9MX$1,555
29.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cadiz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$837€716
$963MX$16.9K
-13.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$933€799
$465MX$8,133
100.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,113€953
$1,596MX$27.9K
-30.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$900€771
$1,209MX$21.2K
-25.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,444€2,948
$3,942MX$69.0K
-12.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,956€3,386
$6,448MX$112.8K
-38.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cadiz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,247€1,923
$720MX$12.6K
211.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.46
11.42
-69.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cadiz: April 25, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $837 in Cadiz versus $963 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 212% higher in Cadiz, 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 $41.00 in Cadiz versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $245 vs $251 – making Cadiz 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
Cadiz vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cadiz or Playa del Carmen?
Cadiz costs about 43% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 Cadiz vs Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,757 per month in Cadiz and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Cadiz 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.
Are groceries more expensive in Cadiz or Playa del Carmen?
Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Cadiz – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
How do dining costs compare in Cadiz vs Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Cadiz and $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Cadiz or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,287, than in Cadiz at $1,838. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cadiz it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cadiz or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,287 versus $1,838 in Cadiz. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Cadiz 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 Cadiz or Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cadiz makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.