๐A single person spends $1,644 per month in Cattolica Eraclea vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $2,488 per month in Cattolica Eraclea vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $3,331 per month in Cattolica Eraclea vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐Cattolica Eraclea costs about 30% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Cattolica Eraclea sits 23% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Cattolica Eraclea
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.22โฌ14.69
$11.67MX$202
47.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7โฌ58.6
$41.88MX$726
63.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.60โฌ9.90
$10.40MX$180
11.54%
Cappuccino
$1.91โฌ1.63
$3.61MX$62.6
-47.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49โฌ2.13
$1.47MX$25.45
69.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29โฌ1.10
$0.91MX$15.80
41.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.48โฌ4.67
$3.03MX$52.6
80.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43โฌ2.92
$4.47MX$77.4
-23.27%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Cattolica Eraclea
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.48โฌ1.26
$1.38MX$23.83
7.25%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85โฌ1.58
$1.84MX$31.93
0.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.44โฌ2.09
$1.61MX$27.82
51.55%
Eggs
$3.14โฌ2.68
$2.57MX$44.52
22.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.50โฌ8.96
$8.49MX$147
23.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.09โฌ9.46
$8.49MX$147
30.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.42โฌ14.00
$10.99MX$190
49.41%
Apples(1kg)
$1.75โฌ1.49
$2.73MX$47.25
-35.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.54โฌ1.31
$1.50MX$25.92
2.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.51โฌ1.29
$1.96MX$33.93
-22.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.70โฌ1.45
$2.12MX$36.70
-19.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.35โฌ1.16
$1.86MX$32.30
-27.42%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13โฌ0.97
$2.17MX$37.67
-47.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85โฌ0.73
$1.07MX$18.59
-20.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47โฌ0.40
$1.05MX$18.18
-55.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.68โฌ5.70
$4.19MX$72.6
59.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.57โฌ3.90
$10.28MX$178
-55.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00โฌ1.70
$1.67MX$28.87
19.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12โฌ2.66
$2.49MX$43.12
25.30%
๐ Getting Around
Cattolica Eraclea
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.77โฌ1.51
$0.54MX$9.37
227.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.50โฌ37.10
$26.27MX$455
65.59%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.91โฌ5.89
$3.10MX$53.8
122.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07โฌ0.91
$2.46MX$42.66
-56.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.42โฌ25.09
$3.24MX$56.1
808.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.03โฌ1.73
$1.26MX$21.83
61.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.7Kโฌ21.9K
$30.2KMX$522.8K
-14.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6Kโฌ21.9K
$23.4KMX$406.3K
9.28%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cattolica Eraclea
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$212โฌ181
$84.0MX$1,456
152.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.73โฌ12.57
$22.21MX$385
-33.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.14โฌ33.39
$29.65MX$514
32.01%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Cattolica Eraclea
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.5โฌ46.47
$52.6MX$912
3.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.56โฌ20.10
$18.34MX$318
28.46%
Cinema Ticket
$9.53โฌ8.13
$4.95MX$85.7
92.53%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Cattolica Eraclea
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$443โฌ378
$198MX$3,438
123.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,825โฌ5,822
$5,322MX$92.2K
28.26%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Cattolica Eraclea
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.4โฌ66.9
$35.95MX$623
118.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.13โฌ24.85
$40.06MX$694
-27.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.1โฌ74.3
$78.8MX$1,365
10.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115โฌ98.2
$86.5MX$1,499
33.13%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Cattolica Eraclea
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$764โฌ652
$977MX$16.9K
-21.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$571โฌ487
$471MX$8,158
21.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,232โฌ1,051
$1,595MX$27.6K
-22.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$922โฌ787
$1,215MX$21.1K
-24.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,001โฌ2,560
$4,032MX$69.9K
-25.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,105โฌ1,796
$6,579MX$114.0K
-68.00%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Cattolica Eraclea
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$714MX$12.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.59
11.42
-59.81%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cattolica Eraclea: April 20, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $764 in Cattolica Eraclea versus $977 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.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $69 in Cattolica Eraclea versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $265 vs $252 โ making Playa del Carmen 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
Cattolica Eraclea vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Cattolica Eraclea?
Yes โ Cattolica Eraclea is pricier by about 30%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,466 per month in Cattolica Eraclea and $1,891 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Cattolica Eraclea and Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 5% more in Cattolica Eraclea, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Cattolica Eraclea or Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Cattolica Eraclea and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafรฉ pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Cattolica Eraclea or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Cattolica Eraclea at $1,644. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cattolica Eraclea it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Cattolica Eraclea or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen โ lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Cattolica Eraclea or Playa del Carmen?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cattolica Eraclea makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Cattolica Eraclea vs other spots: cost of living compared