Cost of Living Comparison Between Chatham-Kent and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Chatham-Kent and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,102 in Chatham-Kent versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,058 in Chatham-Kent versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,015 in Chatham-Kent versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Chatham-Kent is roughly 67% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Chatham-Kent is 57% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chatham-Kent
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.47 CA$20.37
$11.99 MX$209
20.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.7 CA$92.4
$41.78 MX$728
57.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.35 CA$13.15
$10.75 MX$187
-13.02%
Cappuccino
$3.00 CA$4.22
$3.50 MX$60.9
-14.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 CA$2.17
$1.45 MX$25.22
6.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 CA$2.24
$0.88 MX$15.41
80.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.39 CA$7.58
$2.95 MX$51.3
82.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.04 CA$8.49
$4.51 MX$78.6
33.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chatham-Kent
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.16 CA$3.03
$1.43 MX$24.94
51.05%
White Bread (500g)
$2.27 CA$3.19
$1.84 MX$31.99
23.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.70 CA$3.79
$1.57 MX$27.31
71.97%
Eggs
$3.06 CA$4.30
$2.51 MX$43.74
21.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.61 CA$12.12
$8.28 MX$144
3.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.50 CA$16.19
$8.43 MX$147
36.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.60 CA$16.32
$10.68 MX$186
8.61%
Apples (1kg)
$4.06 CA$5.72
$2.61 MX$45.43
55.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.25 CA$1.75
$1.44 MX$25.04
-13.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.25 CA$4.57
$1.96 MX$34.16
65.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.70 CA$5.21
$2.09 MX$36.47
77.03%
Potato (1kg)
$2.35 CA$3.31
$1.85 MX$32.24
27.03%
Onion (1kg)
$2.85 CA$4.00
$2.17 MX$37.74
31.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.95 CA$2.75
$1.03 MX$17.96
89.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 CA$2.30
$1.07 MX$18.70
52.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.86 CA$15.28
$4.10 MX$71.4
164.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.81 CA$13.81
$10.17 MX$177
-3.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 CA$1.67
$1.68 MX$29.17
-29.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 CA$3.86
$2.53 MX$43.98
8.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Chatham-Kent
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.81 CA$2.54
$0.51 MX$8.87
254.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.4 CA$89.2
$26.04 MX$453
143.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.26 CA$3.18
$3.23 MX$56.3
-30.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.72 CA$2.42
$2.41 MX$41.88
-28.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.59 CA$26.16
$3.23 MX$56.2
475.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 CA$1.48
$1.32 MX$23.00
-20.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2K CA$35.4K
$29.7K MX$517.1K
-15.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.7K CA$27.7K
$23.7K MX$412.0K
-16.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chatham-Kent
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$181 CA$255
$82.0 MX$1,428
120.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.94 CA$52.0
$22.95 MX$400
60.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.9 CA$77.2
$30.11 MX$524
82.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chatham-Kent
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.88 CA$20.93
$52.0 MX$905
-71.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.53 MX$323
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.46 CA$14.72
$4.98 MX$86.6
110.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chatham-Kent
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$565 CA$795
$197 MX$3,438
186.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.4K CA$14.7K
$5,336 MX$92.9K
95.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chatham-Kent
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.3 CA$76.4
$35.60 MX$620
52.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.62 CA$36.05
$40.33 MX$702
-36.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.3 CA$98.9
$78.8 MX$1,371
-10.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 CA$126
$88.9 MX$1,549
0.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chatham-Kent
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,413 CA$1,988
$947 MX$16.5K
49.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,014 CA$1,427
$474 MX$8,254
113.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,873 CA$2,636
$1,644 MX$28.6K
13.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,592 CA$2,240
$1,211 MX$21.1K
31.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,056 MX$70.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,470 MX$112.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chatham-Kent
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,059 CA$4,305
$654 MX$11.4K
367.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.74
11.42
-49.74%

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

Last update for Chatham-Kent: July 14, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,413 in Chatham-Kent and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chatham-Kent pays 368% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $66.0 in Chatham-Kent vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $316 vs $249 per month, with Playa del Carmen 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
Chatham-Kent vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chatham-Kent or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 67% lower than in Chatham-Kent. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Chatham-Kent or in Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 368% higher in Chatham-Kent, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Chatham-Kent compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,413 in Chatham-Kent versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Chatham-Kent and in Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $66.0 in Chatham-Kent. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Chatham-Kent compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,102 per month in Chatham-Kent versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – a 67% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Chatham-Kent or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,102 in Chatham-Kent, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Chatham-Kent. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chatham-Kent or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,256 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 67% less than in Chatham-Kent. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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