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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $860 in Cazin versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,261 in Cazin versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,662 in Cazin versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Cazin costs roughly 34% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cazin 36% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cazin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.85 BAM 8.14
$11.73 MX$203
-58.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.62 BAM 39.69
$41.62 MX$720
-43.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.75 BAM 14.69
$10.64 MX$184
-17.76%
Cappuccino
$1.20 BAM 2.02
$3.52 MX$60.9
-65.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 BAM 3.12
$1.51 MX$26.12
23.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 BAM 2.21
$0.97 MX$16.84
35.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 BAM 2.79
$2.95 MX$51.0
-43.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 BAM 4.03
$4.45 MX$77.0
-46.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cazin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 BAM 2.12
$1.38 MX$23.93
-8.70%
White Bread (500g)
$1.14 BAM 1.91
$1.89 MX$32.72
-39.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.15 BAM 3.60
$1.64 MX$28.32
31.10%
Eggs
$2.14 BAM 3.60
$2.51 MX$43.34
-14.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.53 BAM 17.69
$8.34 MX$144
26.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.42 BAM 12.46
$8.34 MX$144
-11.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.12 BAM 22.04
$10.73 MX$186
22.27%
Apples (1kg)
$1.54 BAM 2.58
$2.60 MX$45.04
-40.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 BAM 3.04
$1.46 MX$25.20
23.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.68 BAM 2.82
$1.90 MX$32.87
-11.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.76 BAM 2.95
$2.08 MX$35.91
-15.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 BAM 1.90
$1.78 MX$30.71
-36.52%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 BAM 1.95
$2.19 MX$37.80
-47.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.21 BAM 2.04
$1.04 MX$17.99
16.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 BAM 1.35
$1.08 MX$18.62
-25.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.57 BAM 6.00
$4.08 MX$70.6
-12.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.32 BAM 13.98
$10.32 MX$178
-19.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 BAM 1.85
$1.71 MX$29.61
-35.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 BAM 1.86
$2.58 MX$44.54
-56.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Cazin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.80 BAM 3.02
$0.51 MX$8.81
252.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$36.39 BAM 61.1
$26.46 MX$458
37.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.49 BAM 2.50
$3.26 MX$56.4
-54.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.84 BAM 1.41
$2.49 MX$43.09
-66.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.97 BAM 15.07
$3.25 MX$56.2
176.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 BAM 2.52
$1.31 MX$22.61
14.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4K BAM 40.9K
$30.3K MX$523.7K
-19.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K BAM 43.6K
$23.4K MX$405.3K
10.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cazin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$117 BAM 196
$82.9 MX$1,433
40.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.90 BAM 31.75
$22.22 MX$384
-14.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.71 BAM 49.92
$29.34 MX$507
1.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cazin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.27 BAM 42.45
$51.6 MX$893
-51.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.86 BAM 18.24
$18.32 MX$317
-40.72%
Cinema Ticket
$4.44 BAM 7.46
$5.07 MX$87.6
-12.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cazin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$252 BAM 423
$201 MX$3,473
25.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,348 BAM 5,625
$5,212 MX$90.1K
-35.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cazin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.88 BAM 70.4
$36.92 MX$639
13.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.03 BAM 48.78
$39.79 MX$688
-27.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$49.48 BAM 83.1
$78.5 MX$1,357
-36.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.3 BAM 133
$87.1 MX$1,506
-8.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cazin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$240 BAM 403
$973 MX$16.8K
-75.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$180 BAM 302
$468 MX$8,090
-61.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$372 BAM 625
$1,641 MX$28.4K
-77.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$283 BAM 475
$1,221 MX$21.1K
-76.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,314 BAM 2,207
$3,946 MX$68.3K
-66.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,176 BAM 1,976
$6,498 MX$112.4K
-81.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cazin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$730 BAM 1,226
$664 MX$11.5K
9.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.8
11.42
-66.73%

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

Last update for Cazin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $240 in Cazin and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cazin pays 10% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $24.00 in Cazin vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $228 vs $249 per month, with Cazin cheaper across the board.

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
Cazin vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Cazin and Playa del Carmen?
Cazin and Playa del Carmen differ by about 51% in total monthly costs ($860 vs $1,297 including rent). Cazin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Cazin or Playa del Carmen?
Cazin pays 10% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Cazin and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $240 in Cazin versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Cazin – a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Cazin or Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $860 per month in Cazin versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – a 51% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $860 in Cazin versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Cazin but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Cazin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Cazin and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Cazin or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Cazin 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.
Where should expats move: Cazin or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Cazin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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