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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $833 per month in Cartago vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,287 per month in Cartago vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,740 per month in Cartago vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Cartago is about 34% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Cartago and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Cartago 38% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.67 COP 12.8K

$11.87 MX$204

-69.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.98 COP 101.1K

$42.90 MX$736

-32.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.14 COP 24.9K

$10.65 MX$183

-32.96%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,749

$3.45 MX$59.2

-52.17%

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

$0.87 COP 3,031

$1.50 MX$25.81

-42.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 COP 2,113

$0.95 MX$16.28

-35.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.06 COP 3,696

$3.03 MX$51.9

-65.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 COP 9,026

$4.61 MX$79.1

-43.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 COP 4,305

$1.38 MX$23.61

-10.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 COP 5,327

$1.85 MX$31.70

-17.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 COP 4,247

$1.61 MX$27.65

-24.22%

Eggs

$2.58 COP 9,011

$2.59 MX$44.51

-0.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.22 COP 14.7K

$8.26 MX$142

-48.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.53 COP 19.3K

$8.37 MX$144

-33.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.58 COP 26.5K

$10.66 MX$183

-28.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 COP 8,368

$2.63 MX$45.12

-8.75%

Banana (1kg)

$0.90 COP 3,130

$1.49 MX$25.53

-39.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 COP 4,189

$1.92 MX$32.94

-37.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,604

$2.09 MX$35.81

-36.84%

Potato (1kg)

$0.83 COP 2,896

$1.86 MX$31.88

-55.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,726

$2.26 MX$38.81

-52.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 COP 2,643

$1.06 MX$18.23

-28.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 COP 2,455

$1.09 MX$18.67

-35.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.81 COP 9,823

$4.15 MX$71.2

-32.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.80 COP 41.2K

$10.39 MX$178

13.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 COP 3,768

$1.72 MX$29.59

-37.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 COP 6,796

$2.61 MX$44.85

-25.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.67 COP 2,322

$0.54 MX$9.30

24.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.31 COP 105.8K

$26.94 MX$462

12.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.55 COP 5,403

$3.13 MX$53.7

-50.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.99 COP 6,936

$2.51 MX$43.09

-20.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.47 COP 33.0K

$3.15 MX$54.1

200.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 COP 3,406

$1.27 MX$21.88

-22.83%

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

$21.7K COP 75.7M

$30.4K MX$521.3K

-28.56%

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

$29.6K COP 103.5M

$23.6K MX$404.5K

25.82%

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

$83.4 COP 290.9K

$83.0 MX$1,425

0.42%

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

$8.71 COP 30.4K

$22.71 MX$390

-61.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.88 COP 86.8K

$29.46 MX$506

-15.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.13 COP 80.7K

$51.0 MX$875

-54.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.33 MX$315

Cinema Ticket

$4.78 COP 16.7K

$4.93 MX$84.5

-3.04%

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

$228 COP 796.3K

$197 MX$3,386

15.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,939 COP 20.7M

$5,280 MX$90.6K

12.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.1 COP 223.8K

$36.90 MX$633

73.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.98 COP 153.5K

$39.89 MX$685

10.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.7 COP 271.3K

$80.0 MX$1,373

-2.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.0 COP 314.0K

$89.5 MX$1,536

0.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$279 COP 973.3K

$956 MX$16.4K

-70.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$234 COP 817.8K

$477 MX$8,189

-50.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$539 COP 1.9M

$1,646 MX$28.3K

-67.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$434 COP 1.5M

$1,225 MX$21.0K

-64.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,602 COP 5.6M

$3,918 MX$67.2K

-59.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,302 COP 4.5M

$6,459 MX$110.9K

-79.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$324 COP 1.1M

$667 MX$11.4K

-51.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.58

11.42

1.40%

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

Last update for Cartago: June 7, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $279 in Cartago versus $956 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 106% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 $29.00 in Cartago versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $184 vs $250 – making Cartago 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 52%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,250 per month in Cartago and $1,906 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 Cartago, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $833 in Cartago and $1,271 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 13% less in Cartago. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cartago, where all-in costs run around $833, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Cartago it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cartago – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Cartago. 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.