😐A single person spends $1,900 per month in Cesano Maderno vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,942 per month in Cesano Maderno vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,984 per month in Cesano Maderno vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Cesano Maderno costs about 51% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Cesano Maderno sits 42% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cesano Maderno
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.13€20.23
$11.99MX$210
92.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.5€80.9
$41.78MX$733
121.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.66€11.95
$10.75MX$189
27.07%
Cappuccino
$1.95€1.71
$3.50MX$61.3
-44.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33€2.91
$1.45MX$25.41
129.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23€1.08
$0.88MX$15.52
39.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.84€5.99
$2.95MX$51.7
131.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88€5.15
$4.51MX$79.1
30.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cesano Maderno
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.85€1.62
$1.43MX$25.12
29.37%
White Bread(500g)
$2.35€2.06
$1.84MX$32.23
27.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.54€3.10
$1.57MX$27.51
125.48%
Eggs
$4.44€3.88
$2.51MX$44.06
76.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.18€16.78
$8.28MX$145
131.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.90€11.28
$8.43MX$148
53.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$24.07€21.06
$10.68MX$187
125.37%
Apples(1kg)
$2.68€2.34
$2.61MX$45.76
2.68%
Banana(1kg)
$2.31€2.02
$1.44MX$25.22
60.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.46€2.15
$1.96MX$34.41
25.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.56€3.11
$2.09MX$36.74
70.33%
Potato(1kg)
$2.03€1.77
$1.85MX$32.47
9.73%
Onion(1kg)
$1.82€1.60
$2.17MX$38.02
-16.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.60€1.40
$1.03MX$18.09
55.34%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46€0.41
$1.07MX$18.84
-57.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.11€6.22
$4.10MX$72.0
73.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.95€7.83
$10.17MX$178
-12.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61€1.41
$1.68MX$29.38
-4.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41€1.23
$2.53MX$44.31
-44.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Cesano Maderno
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.71€1.50
$0.51MX$8.93
235.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.37€37.95
$26.04MX$457
66.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.64€4.93
$3.23MX$56.7
74.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17€1.90
$2.41MX$42.19
-9.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$39.63€34.68
$3.23MX$56.6
1126.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.07€1.81
$1.32MX$23.17
56.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8K€29.6K
$29.7KMX$520.9K
13.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.3K€30.9K
$23.7KMX$415.0K
49.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cesano Maderno
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$243€213
$82.0MX$1,439
196.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.75€10.28
$22.95MX$403
-48.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.23€29.95
$30.11MX$528
13.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cesano Maderno
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.9€48.02
$52.0MX$912
5.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.45€20.51
$18.53MX$325
26.55%
Cinema Ticket
$11.49€10.05
$4.98MX$87.3
130.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cesano Maderno
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$723€633
$197MX$3,463
266.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,781€5,933
$5,336MX$93.6K
27.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cesano Maderno
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$112€97.6
$35.60MX$624
213.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.5€47.65
$40.33MX$707
35.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116€102
$78.8MX$1,381
47.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$170€149
$88.9MX$1,560
91.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cesano Maderno
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$741€648
$947MX$16.6K
-21.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$584€511
$474MX$8,314
23.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,082
$1,644MX$28.8K
-24.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$932€815
$1,211MX$21.2K
-23.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,961€2,590
$4,056MX$71.1K
-27.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,928€1,687
$6,470MX$113.5K
-70.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cesano Maderno
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$654MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.25
11.42
-71.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cesano Maderno: July 11, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $741 in Cesano Maderno versus $947 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $92.0 in Cesano Maderno versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $373 vs $249 – 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
Cesano Maderno vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cesano Maderno or Playa del Carmen?
Cesano Maderno costs about 51% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Cesano Maderno and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,850 per month in Cesano Maderno and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Cesano Maderno or Playa del Carmen?
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 much does it cost to live in Cesano Maderno compared to Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,900 in Cesano Maderno and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Cesano Maderno compared to Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 67% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Cesano Maderno or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Cesano Maderno at $1,900. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cesano Maderno it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cesano Maderno or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,256 versus $1,900 in Cesano Maderno. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Cesano Maderno compared to 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 – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Cesano Maderno or to Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cesano Maderno makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Cesano Maderno vs other spots: cost of living compared