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

😐 Solo nomad: Carolina is 11.2% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 1.5% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Carolina is 45.7% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 11.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Carolina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.91 $16.91
$11.99 MX$227
41.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.4 $82.4
$42.47 MX$803
93.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.77 $9.77
$10.47 MX$198
-6.69%
Cappuccino
$3.23 $3.23
$3.6 MX$68.2
-10.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.7 $1.7
$1.44 MX$27.16
18.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 $1.39
$0.89 MX$16.79
56.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.98 $2.98
$3.09 MX$58.5
-3.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.05 $4.05
$4.58 MX$86.6
-11.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Carolina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.37 $2.37
$1.38 MX$26.04
71.74%
White Bread (500g)
$3.31 $3.31
$1.85 MX$34.9
78.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 $2.25
$1.57 MX$29.68
43.31%
Eggs
$6.05 $6.05
$2.55 MX$48.3
137.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.57 $8.57
$8.61 MX$163
-0.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.53 $8.53
$8.54 MX$161
-0.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.93 $12.93
$10.98 MX$208
17.76%
Apples (1kg)
$5.98 $5.98
$2.72 MX$51.4
119.85%
Banana (1kg)
$2.63 $2.63
$1.51 MX$28.57
74.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.94 $3.94
$1.88 MX$35.63
109.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.16 $4.16
$2.19 MX$41.42
89.95%
Potato (1kg)
$3.97 $3.97
$1.87 MX$35.3
112.30%
Onion (1kg)
$2.93 $2.93
$2.19 MX$41.37
33.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.07 $3.07
$1.07 MX$20.23
186.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$1.09 MX$20.64
82.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.49 $11.49
$3.96 MX$74.9
190.15%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$8.86 MX$167
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$1.72 MX$32.53
43.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 $3.23
$2.61 MX$49.37
23.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Carolina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.78 $0.78
$0.52 MX$9.74
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.59 MX$503
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.24 MX$61.2
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 $1.53
$2.38 MX$44.94
-35.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.71 $14.71
$3.11 MX$58.7
372.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.31 MX$24.85
-14.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.6K $36.6K
$30.3K MX$573K
20.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K $26.6K
$24K MX$453.6K
10.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Carolina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$314 $314
$84.2 MX$1,592
272.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$77.9 $77.9
$22.14 MX$419
251.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.6 $70.6
$30.14 MX$570
134.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Carolina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$11.19 $11.19
$52 MX$983
-78.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.72 MX$354
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.44 $11.44
$5.07 MX$95.9
125.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Carolina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$464 $464
$200 MX$3,787
131.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.4K $10.4K
$5,333 MX$100.8K
95.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Carolina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.49 $45.49
$35.74 MX$676
27.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.8 $56.8
$39.8 MX$753
42.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 $91.5
$79 MX$1,493
15.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 $107
$88.4 MX$1,671
20.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Carolina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$450 $450
$965 MX$18.3K
-53.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$474 MX$8,968
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,815 $1,815
$1,653 MX$31.2K
9.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,202 MX$22.7K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,081 MX$58.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Carolina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,758 $1,758
$792 MX$15K
122.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.71
11.42
-50.00%

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

Last update for Carolina: October 27, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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