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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,007 per month in Calarasi vs $1,294 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,502 per month in Calarasi vs $2,189 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,996 per month in Calarasi vs $3,084 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Calarasi is about 22% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Calarasi and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Calarasi 24% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.04 RON 45.20

$11.73 MX$202

-14.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.75 RON 125

$41.78 MX$719

-33.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 RON 35.43

$10.41 MX$179

-24.40%

Cappuccino

$2.69 RON 12.11

$3.61 MX$62.1

-25.48%

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

$1.54 RON 6.92

$1.46 MX$25.06

5.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 RON 8.49

$0.97 MX$16.70

93.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 RON 10.12

$2.92 MX$50.3

-22.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 RON 15.16

$4.62 MX$79.5

-27.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 RON 6.03

$1.43 MX$24.59

-6.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 RON 4.75

$1.90 MX$32.70

-44.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 RON 7.95

$1.57 MX$26.95

12.74%

Eggs

$3.28 RON 14.79

$2.64 MX$45.34

24.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.96 RON 40.33

$8.44 MX$145

6.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.92 RON 31.17

$8.58 MX$148

-19.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.00 RON 40.55

$11.00 MX$189

-18.18%

Apples (1kg)

$1.16 RON 5.23

$2.70 MX$46.51

-57.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 RON 6.39

$1.51 MX$25.92

-5.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.32 RON 5.95

$1.91 MX$32.93

-30.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 RON 8.82

$2.17 MX$37.37

-9.68%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 RON 3.67

$1.87 MX$32.25

-56.15%

Onion (1kg)

$0.90 RON 4.05

$2.23 MX$38.43

-59.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 RON 3.22

$1.08 MX$18.60

-34.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 RON 3.68

$1.07 MX$18.47

-23.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.80 RON 26.13

$4.16 MX$71.6

39.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.38 RON 19.75

$10.29 MX$177

-57.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 RON 4.15

$1.68 MX$28.95

-45.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 RON 6.12

$2.53 MX$43.59

-46.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 RON 2.01

$0.55 MX$9.53

-18.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.85 RON 62.4

$26.29 MX$452

-47.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.72 RON 3.23

$3.20 MX$55.0

-77.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 RON 2.75

$2.46 MX$42.37

-75.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.79 RON 26.06

$3.20 MX$55.0

80.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 RON 7.19

$1.32 MX$22.72

21.21%

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

$25.4K RON 114.4K

$30.2K MX$518.8K

-15.78%

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

$27.7K RON 124.6K

$23.4K MX$402.5K

18.28%

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

$147 RON 663

$81.4 MX$1,400

80.85%

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

$8.32 RON 37.47

$22.41 MX$386

-62.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.61 RON 34.27

$29.97 MX$516

-74.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.5 RON 313

$51.6 MX$887

34.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.85 RON 84.9

$18.39 MX$316

2.50%

Cinema Ticket

$6.16 RON 27.74

$5.16 MX$88.9

19.38%

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

$419 RON 1,889

$202 MX$3,471

107.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,063 RON 31.8K

$5,311 MX$91.4K

32.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.4 RON 375

$35.61 MX$613

134.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.55 RON 192

$40.37 MX$695

5.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.4 RON 335

$78.6 MX$1,353

-5.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.6 RON 435

$86.9 MX$1,495

11.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$382 RON 1,719

$950 MX$16.3K

-59.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$230 RON 1,036

$478 MX$8,227

-51.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$593 RON 2,669

$1,621 MX$27.9K

-63.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$371 RON 1,670

$1,223 MX$21.0K

-69.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,231 RON 5,543

$4,009 MX$69.0K

-69.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$984 RON 4,431

$6,473 MX$111.4K

-84.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$772 RON 3,476

$673 MX$11.6K

14.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.62

11.42

-42.03%

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

Last update for Calarasi: June 14, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $382 in Calarasi versus $950 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 15% higher in Calarasi, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Calarasi versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $195 vs $254 – making Calarasi 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,007 in Calarasi, $1,294 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 29% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,510 per month in Calarasi and $1,941 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 Calarasi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $419 per month in Calarasi and $202 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 30% 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Calarasi, where all-in costs run around $1,007, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,294. In Calarasi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,007 in Calarasi to $1,294 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Calarasi. 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.