Cost of Living Comparison Between Cancun and Caldas da Rainha Cost of Living Comparison Between Cancun and Caldas da Rainha

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,365 per month in Cancun vs $1,486 in Caldas da Rainha, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,243 per month in Cancun vs $2,267 in Caldas da Rainha, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,121 per month in Cancun vs $3,047 in Caldas da Rainha, rent included.

Cancun is about 8% cheaper than Caldas da Rainha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Cancun and Caldas da Rainha sit above the global median – Cancun by 2%, Caldas da Rainha by 11%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cancun
Caldas da Rainha
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.37 MX$231
$17.24 €14.83
-22.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.7 MX$928
$49.69 €42.74
8.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.13 MX$175
$10.51 €9.04
-3.62%
Cappuccino
$3.44 MX$59.5
$1.59 €1.37
116.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$27.37
$2.41 €2.07
-34.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 MX$15.58
$1.34 €1.15
-32.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.04 MX$52.6
$2.32 €2.00
31.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.48 MX$77.4
$3.26 €2.81
37.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cancun
Caldas da Rainha
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.78
$1.06 €0.91
34.91%
White Bread (500g)
$2.54 MX$43.94
$1.44 €1.24
76.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.93 MX$33.40
$1.62 €1.39
19.14%
Eggs
$2.63 MX$45.41
$2.92 €2.51
-9.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.32 MX$196
$10.78 €9.27
5.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.69 MX$150
$7.42 €6.38
17.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.72 MX$185
$13.02 €11.20
-17.67%
Apples (1kg)
$3.25 MX$56.1
$2.03 €1.75
60.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 MX$27.13
$1.39 €1.19
12.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.14 MX$54.3
$1.81 €1.56
73.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.20 MX$38.04
$2.52 €2.17
-12.70%
Potato (1kg)
$2.14 MX$37.01
$2.00 €1.72
7.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.31 MX$39.97
$1.94 €1.67
19.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MX$18.61
$1.29 €1.11
-16.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$22.14
$0.88 €0.76
45.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 MX$72.6
$5.65 €4.86
-25.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.25 MX$177
$4.10 €3.52
150.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$28.99
$1.70 €1.46
-1.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62 MX$45.24
$1.78 €1.53
47.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Cancun
Caldas da Rainha
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MX$10.42
$3.79 €3.26
-84.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.6 MX$1,048
$34.99 €30.10
73.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.21 MX$72.8
$2.94 €2.53
43.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.48 MX$42.83
$0.80 €0.68
210.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.97 MX$172
$17.58 €15.12
-43.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 MX$23.01
$2.01 €1.73
-33.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K MX$528.1K
$41.3K €35.5K
-26.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1K MX$416.6K
$39.0K €33.6K
-38.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cancun
Caldas da Rainha
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$116 MX$2,000
$114 €97.6
1.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.15 MX$400
$19.78 €17.01
17.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.11 MX$625
$41.54 €35.74
-13.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cancun
Caldas da Rainha
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.40 MX$439
$50.1 €43.11
-49.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.07 MX$416
$28.43 €24.46
-15.34%
Cinema Ticket
$6.06 MX$105
$9.06 €7.79
-33.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cancun
Caldas da Rainha
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,413
$421 €362
-53.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,199 MX$89.9K
$5,875 €5,054
-11.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cancun
Caldas da Rainha
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9 MX$932
$100 €86.1
-46.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89 MX$690
$42.66 €36.70
-6.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.7 MX$1,430
$114 €98.4
-27.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 MX$1,930
$70.7 €60.8
57.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cancun
Caldas da Rainha
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$616 MX$10.7K
$853 €734
-27.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$459 MX$7,931
$572 €492
-19.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,267 MX$21.9K
$1,276 €1,098
-0.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 MX$17.5K
$974 €838
3.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,189 MX$37.9K
$2,989 €2,571
-26.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,287 MX$39.6K
$2,409 €2,072
-5.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cancun
Caldas da Rainha
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$803 MX$13.9K
$1,176 €1,012
-31.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
4.39
160.14%

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

Last update for Cancun: June 1, 2026

Last update for Caldas da Rainha: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Cancun versus $853 in Caldas da Rainha. 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 46% higher in Caldas da Rainha, 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 $54.0 in Cancun versus $50.0 in Caldas da Rainha. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $282 vs $236 – making Caldas da Rainha 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
Cancun vs Caldas da Rainha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Caldas da Rainha cheaper than Cancun?
Yes – Caldas da Rainha is pricier by about 9%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,048 per month in Cancun and $2,229 in Caldas da Rainha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cancun, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Cancun or Caldas da Rainha?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Cancun and $50.0 in Caldas da Rainha. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Cancun vs Caldas da Rainha?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,365 in Cancun and $1,486 in Caldas da Rainha. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Cancun or Caldas da Rainha?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Cancun, where all-in costs run around $1,365, than in Caldas da Rainha at $1,486. In Cancun it covers expenses comfortably, while in Caldas da Rainha it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Cancun or Caldas da Rainha more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Cancun – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Cancun or Caldas da Rainha?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Cancun. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Caldas da Rainha makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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