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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $931 per month in Castro vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,474 per month in Castro vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,016 per month in Castro vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Castro is about 29% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Castro and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Castro 33% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.30 CLP 7,815

$11.96 MX$203

-30.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.78 CLP 45.0K

$47.38 MX$804

0.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.02 CLP 5,662

$11.75 MX$199

-48.77%

Cappuccino

$1.63 CLP 1,531

$4.12 MX$70.0

-60.44%

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

$1.31 CLP 1,232

$1.40 MX$23.74

-6.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 CLP 1,031

$0.91 MX$15.48

20.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.43 CLP 5,106

$3.21 MX$54.4

69.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.38 CLP 6,941

$7.07 MX$120

4.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 CLP 1,022

$1.68 MX$28.44

-35.12%

White Bread (500g)

$3.86 CLP 3,628

$2.15 MX$36.48

79.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 CLP 1,230

$1.77 MX$30.10

-25.99%

Eggs

$4.25 CLP 3,997

$2.82 MX$47.76

50.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.03 CLP 9,443

$9.20 MX$156

9.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 CLP 4,070

$9.23 MX$157

-53.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.54 CLP 8,035

$12.64 MX$214

-32.44%

Apples (1kg)

$1.47 CLP 1,380

$2.95 MX$50.1

-50.17%

Banana (1kg)

$2.31 CLP 2,171

$1.58 MX$26.79

46.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 CLP 1,538

$2.22 MX$37.70

-26.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 CLP 1,965

$2.36 MX$40.09

-11.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 CLP 1,145

$1.99 MX$33.81

-38.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 MX$33.58

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.57 CLP 1,480

$1.24 MX$21.04

26.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 CLP 1,540

$1.21 MX$20.55

35.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.96 CLP 3,729

$4.60 MX$78.1

-13.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.86 CLP 7,401

$10.52 MX$178

-25.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 CLP 997

$1.69 MX$28.70

-37.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 CLP 3,069

$2.77 MX$47.06

17.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 CLP 700

$0.60 MX$10.22

23.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.24 MX$88.8

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.65 MX$61.9

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 MX$98.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 CLP 1,321

$1.54 MX$26.09

-9.09%

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

$15.8K CLP 14.9M

$22.8K MX$386.8K

-30.56%

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

$19.4K CLP 18.3M

$25.8K MX$437.9K

-24.74%

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

$137 CLP 129.0K

$90.7 MX$1,538

51.19%

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

$25.19 MX$427

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.49 CLP 29.6K

$31.75 MX$539

-0.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 MX$1,167

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$498

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$82.5

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

$226 MX$3,828

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,194 MX$71.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.38 MX$804

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.45 MX$737

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.2 CLP 80.2K

$80.2 MX$1,361

6.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.4 MX$1,550

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$376 CLP 353.8K

$1,086 MX$18.4K

-65.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$301 CLP 282.9K

$409 MX$6,933

-26.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,054 CLP 991.6K

$1,972 MX$33.5K

-46.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$619 CLP 582.8K

$1,281 MX$21.7K

-51.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,046 MX$68.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,704 MX$113.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$643 CLP 605.1K

$773 MX$13.1K

-16.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

-38.86%

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

Last update for Castro: September 6, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $376 in Castro versus $1,086 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 20% 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 $48.00 in Castro versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Castro vs $278 in Playa del Carmen – so Castro wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

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

Playa del Carmen costs about 40% more than Castro, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,396 per month in Castro and $1,958 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 Castro, 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 $931 in Castro and $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 14% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Castro, where all-in costs run around $931, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Castro it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Castro costs $931 versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Castro. 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.