🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $249 in Carriacou versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $400 in Carriacou versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $550 in Carriacou versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Carriacou costs roughly 81% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Carriacou81% lower, Playa del Carmen4% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Carriacou
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$11.94MX$208
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$42.75MX$744
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$10.59MX$184
-
Cappuccino
$2.25EC$6.08
$3.62MX$63.0
-37.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.47MX$25.54
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.94MX$16.41
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.09MX$53.8
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.46MX$77.6
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Carriacou
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.84EC$4.96
$1.43MX$24.80
28.67%
White Bread(500g)
-
$1.88MX$32.79
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.63MX$28.34
-
Eggs
$5.12EC$13.83
$2.64MX$45.99
93.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.79EC$45.34
$8.21MX$143
104.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.49EC$20.22
$8.29MX$144
-9.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$11.10MX$193
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$2.65MX$46.14
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.50MX$26.11
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.99MX$34.59
-
Tomato(1kg)
$6.39EC$17.26
$2.08MX$36.13
207.21%
Potato(1kg)
$1.51EC$4.07
$1.79MX$31.11
-15.64%
Onion(1kg)
$2.16EC$5.82
$2.18MX$37.87
-0.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44EC$3.89
$1.08MX$18.73
33.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.04MX$18.04
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31EC$11.63
$3.97MX$69.1
8.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.08EC$40.71
$10.20MX$178
47.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.86EC$7.72
$1.73MX$30.04
65.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.50MX$43.46
-
🚌 Getting Around
Carriacou
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.13EC$3.05
$0.52MX$9.02
117.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.97MX$469
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.14MX$54.7
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$2.40MX$41.80
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.09MX$53.7
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.58EC$4.27
$1.27MX$22.16
24.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$30.9KMX$537.3K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.3KMX$405.7K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Carriacou
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$82.0MX$1,427
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$22.45MX$391
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$29.66MX$516
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Carriacou
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$51.9MX$903
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.67MX$325
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.97MX$86.5
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Carriacou
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$198MX$3,442
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,273MX$91.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Carriacou
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$36.34MX$632
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$40.05MX$697
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$79.9MX$1,390
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$88.9MX$1,547
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Carriacou
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$963MX$16.8K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$465MX$8,086
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,596MX$27.8K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,209MX$21.0K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$563EC$1,519
$3,942MX$68.6K
-85.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,448MX$112.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Carriacou
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$720MX$12.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
11.42
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Carriacou: April 26, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
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
Carriacou vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Carriacou?
Carriacou is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear. The 416% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $374 in Carriacou and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do food prices compare in Carriacou and Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Carriacou vs Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $249 per month in Carriacou versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – a 416% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Carriacou or Playa del Carmen?
At $249 in Carriacou versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Carriacou but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Carriacou the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Carriacou or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Carriacou 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.
Which city is safer, Carriacou or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Carriacou and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Carriacou gentler on the wallet – expenses run 416% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.