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 $839 per month in Cartago vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,282 per month in Cartago vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,725 per month in Cartago vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Cartago is about 33% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Cartago and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Cartago 37% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.71 COP 11.7K

$11.72 MX$203

-68.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.46 COP 92.8K

$41.89 MX$725

-29.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.24 COP 22.8K

$10.51 MX$182

-31.11%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,179

$3.59 MX$62.0

-54.04%

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

$0.87 COP 2,753

$1.51 MX$26.10

-42.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 COP 1,913

$0.92 MX$15.83

-33.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.01 COP 3,193

$2.96 MX$51.2

-65.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 7,774

$4.41 MX$76.3

-43.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 COP 4,052

$1.40 MX$24.16

-7.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.54 COP 4,847

$1.88 MX$32.60

-18.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 COP 3,821

$1.56 MX$26.97

-22.44%

Eggs

$2.47 COP 7,786

$2.61 MX$45.14

-5.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.13 COP 13.0K

$8.32 MX$144

-50.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.58 COP 17.6K

$8.35 MX$145

-33.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.79 COP 24.5K

$10.86 MX$188

-28.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.45 COP 7,726

$2.71 MX$46.93

-9.59%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 COP 3,068

$1.51 MX$26.04

-35.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.16 COP 3,650

$1.87 MX$32.41

-37.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.27 COP 4,004

$2.19 MX$37.89

-42.01%

Potato (1kg)

$0.83 COP 2,598

$1.86 MX$32.14

-55.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 COP 3,315

$2.23 MX$38.59

-52.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 COP 2,250

$1.07 MX$18.48

-33.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 COP 2,149

$1.09 MX$18.79

-37.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.84 COP 8,949

$4.19 MX$72.4

-32.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.78 COP 40.2K

$10.43 MX$180

22.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 COP 3,522

$1.66 MX$28.68

-32.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 COP 6,018

$2.61 MX$45.19

-26.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 COP 2,167

$0.54 MX$9.37

27.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.38 COP 95.7K

$26.16 MX$453

16.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 COP 5,017

$3.08 MX$53.3

-48.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,011

$2.40 MX$41.61

-20.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.72 COP 30.6K

$3.13 MX$54.1

210.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 COP 2,927

$1.31 MX$22.69

-29.01%

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

$21.7K COP 68.3M

$29.8K MX$515.7K

-27.27%

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

$29.5K COP 93.0M

$23.3K MX$403.5K

26.61%

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

$81.3 COP 256.0K

$81.3 MX$1,406

0.02%

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

$8.61 COP 27.1K

$22.56 MX$390

-61.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.85 COP 78.3K

$30.05 MX$520

-17.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.75 COP 74.8K

$52.9 MX$915

-55.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$4.75 COP 15.0K

$4.92 MX$85.1

-3.46%

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

$229 COP 721.5K

$201 MX$3,474

14.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,018 COP 18.9M

$5,175 MX$89.5K

16.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 COP 203.4K

$35.92 MX$622

79.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.43 COP 139.9K

$40.13 MX$694

10.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 COP 245.0K

$79.7 MX$1,379

-2.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.4 COP 281.3K

$86.5 MX$1,496

3.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$285 COP 896.6K

$978 MX$16.9K

-70.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$234 COP 736.3K

$470 MX$8,140

-50.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$529 COP 1.7M

$1,651 MX$28.6K

-67.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$431 COP 1.4M

$1,203 MX$20.8K

-64.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,040 COP 6.4M

$3,953 MX$68.4K

-48.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,273 COP 4.0M

$6,607 MX$114.3K

-80.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$360 COP 1.1M

$677 MX$11.7K

-46.74%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $285 in Cartago versus $978 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 88% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $186 vs $252 – 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 50%, 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 $1,258 per month in Cartago and $1,890 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 $839 in Cartago and $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 16% 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 $839, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. 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.