🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,122 in Champotón versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,814 in Champotón versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,505 in Champotón versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Champotón costs roughly 13% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Champotón16% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Champotón
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.79MX$187
$11.73MX$203
-8.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.32MX$855
$41.62MX$721
18.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.07MX$140
$10.64MX$184
-24.15%
Cappuccino
$3.70MX$64.2
$3.52MX$61.0
5.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.08
$1.51MX$26.17
-23.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.49
$0.97MX$16.87
10.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.80MX$48.44
$2.95MX$51.1
-5.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04MX$70.0
$4.45MX$77.2
-9.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Champotón
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.07MX$18.57
$1.38MX$23.97
-22.46%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13MX$36.96
$1.89MX$32.78
12.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.54MX$26.73
$1.64MX$28.37
-6.10%
Eggs
$1.92MX$33.29
$2.51MX$43.42
-23.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.10MX$175
$8.34MX$145
21.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.96MX$121
$8.34MX$145
-16.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.67MX$116
$10.73MX$186
-37.84%
Apples(1kg)
$2.82MX$48.85
$2.60MX$45.12
8.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.42MX$24.55
$1.46MX$25.25
-2.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13MX$36.99
$1.90MX$32.94
12.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.80MX$31.16
$2.08MX$35.98
-13.46%
Potato(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.63
$1.78MX$30.77
21.91%
Onion(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.03
$2.19MX$37.87
-10.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.71
$1.04MX$18.02
3.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.23
$1.08MX$18.66
-12.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.17MX$72.2
$4.08MX$70.7
2.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.08MX$175
$10.32MX$179
-2.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37MX$23.79
$1.71MX$29.67
-19.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.91
$2.58MX$44.63
11.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Champotón
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.45
$0.51MX$8.83
17.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.46MX$459
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.35MX$40.64
$3.26MX$56.5
-27.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.58MX$27.43
$2.49MX$43.17
-36.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.50MX$113
$3.25MX$56.3
100.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$22.85
$1.31MX$22.65
0.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.9KMX$275.9K
$30.3KMX$524.7K
-47.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.6KMX$374.0K
$23.4KMX$406.0K
-7.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Champotón
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$85.5MX$1,482
$82.9MX$1,436
3.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.52MX$408
$22.22MX$385
5.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.58MX$495
$29.34MX$508
-2.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Champotón
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.64MX$618
$51.6MX$895
-30.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.09MX$279
$18.32MX$317
-12.17%
Cinema Ticket
$4.67MX$80.9
$5.07MX$87.8
-7.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Champotón
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$209MX$3,618
$201MX$3,480
3.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,460MX$60.0K
$5,212MX$90.3K
-33.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Champotón
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.6MX$963
$36.92MX$640
50.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.96MX$831
$39.79MX$689
20.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.6MX$1,553
$78.5MX$1,360
14.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.5MX$1,464
$87.1MX$1,509
-3.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Champotón
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$516MX$8,947
$973MX$16.9K
-46.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$403MX$6,980
$468MX$8,105
-13.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$919MX$15.9K
$1,641MX$28.4K
-44.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$755MX$13.1K
$1,221MX$21.2K
-38.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,949MX$33.8K
$3,946MX$68.4K
-50.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,150MX$19.9K
$6,498MX$112.6K
-82.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Champotón
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$664MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.68
11.42
2.28%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Champotón: June 1, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $516 in Champotón and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $49.00 in Champotón vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $230 vs $249, with Champotón cheaper for home cooking.
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
Champotón vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Champotón or Playa del Carmen?
Champotón wins on cost – living expenses run 16% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Champotón the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Champotón vs Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $1,684 in Champotón and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Champotón vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $516 in Champotón versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Champotón and Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $209 in Champotón versus $201 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Champotón vs Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Champotón – a meal for two runs $49.00 versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Champotón or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,122 in Champotón versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Champotón but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Champotón the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Champotón or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Champotón delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,122 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Champotón hard to pass up.
How safe is Champotón compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Champotón 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Champotón gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.