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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,090 in Cali versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,649 in Cali versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,208 in Cali versus $3,374 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Cali costs roughly 16% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cali 21% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.70 COP 24.3K

$11.71 MX$199

-34.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.08 COP 120.1K

$46.59 MX$792

-18.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.61 COP 27.2K

$11.65 MX$198

-26.09%

Cappuccino

$1.62 COP 5,111

$4.09 MX$69.6

-60.39%

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

$1.26 COP 3,973

$1.37 MX$23.35

-8.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 COP 2,755

$0.83 MX$14.17

4.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 COP 10.2K

$3.35 MX$57.0

-2.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 COP 12.1K

$6.91 MX$117

-44.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 COP 4,969

$1.73 MX$29.35

-9.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.99 COP 6,282

$2.26 MX$38.41

-11.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,765

$1.77 MX$30.07

-14.69%

Eggs

$2.83 COP 8,921

$2.73 MX$46.43

3.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.43 COP 20.3K

$9.18 MX$156

-29.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.06 COP 22.3K

$8.92 MX$152

-20.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.39 COP 32.8K

$12.60 MX$214

-17.54%

Apples (1kg)

$3.49 COP 11.0K

$3.02 MX$51.3

15.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 COP 4,456

$1.57 MX$26.69

-10.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.76 COP 5,542

$2.13 MX$36.12

-17.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.75 COP 5,522

$2.26 MX$38.48

-22.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.45 COP 4,584

$2.00 MX$34.05

-27.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.57 COP 4,949

$2.06 MX$35.08

-23.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 COP 3,640

$1.18 MX$20.05

-2.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 COP 3,272

$1.20 MX$20.46

-13.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.70 COP 11.7K

$4.63 MX$78.8

-20.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.26 COP 41.8K

$10.69 MX$182

24.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 COP 4,569

$1.62 MX$27.52

-10.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 COP 7,990

$2.88 MX$48.96

-12.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 COP 3,422

$0.57 MX$9.74

89.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.95 COP 94.5K

$29.83 MX$507

0.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 COP 2,662

$5.45 MX$92.6

-84.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.70 MX$63.0

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 MX$102

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 COP 4,114

$1.55 MX$26.40

-16.13%

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

$22.3K MX$379.4K

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

$35.7K COP 112.6M

$25.9K MX$441.0K

37.51%

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

$114 COP 358.3K

$89.1 MX$1,515

27.39%

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

$13.49 COP 42.6K

$25.04 MX$426

-46.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.05 COP 98.0K

$31.50 MX$535

-1.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.87 COP 91.1K

$67.8 MX$1,152

-57.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.92 MX$491

Cinema Ticket

$8.43 COP 26.6K

$5.05 MX$85.8

66.93%

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

$225 MX$3,823

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,222 MX$71.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.3 COP 253.3K

$47.44 MX$806

69.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.4 COP 171.6K

$44.98 MX$764

20.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 COP 391.8K

$82.0 MX$1,393

51.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 343.7K

$92.1 MX$1,565

18.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$641 COP 2.0M

$1,069 MX$18.2K

-40.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 COP 944.9K

$405 MX$6,888

-26.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,577 COP 5.0M

$1,935 MX$32.9K

-18.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$493 COP 1.6M

$1,301 MX$22.1K

-62.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,995 MX$67.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,626 MX$112.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 COP 1.9M

$749 MX$12.7K

-21.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.58

11.45

1.14%

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

Last update for Cali: September 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $641 in Cali and $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 27% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $38.00 in Cali vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $277 per month, with Cali cheaper across the board.

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

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

Cali is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 27% lower in Playa del Carmen. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $641 in Cali versus $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Cali – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

A monthly transit pass in Cali runs roughly 0% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,090 in Cali versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cali but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Cali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Cali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Cali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.