😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,759 in Colleferro versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,779 in Colleferro versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,798 in Colleferro versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Colleferro is roughly 38% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Colleferro is 31% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Colleferro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.22€20.00
$11.87MX$204
95.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.1€81.0
$42.90MX$736
119.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.73€10.10
$10.65MX$183
10.14%
Cappuccino
$1.69€1.46
$3.45MX$59.2
-51.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18€1.02
$1.50MX$25.81
-21.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56€0.48
$0.95MX$16.28
-41.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.08€6.10
$3.03MX$51.9
133.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.85€5.90
$4.61MX$79.1
48.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Colleferro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65€1.42
$1.38MX$23.61
19.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.65€1.42
$1.85MX$31.70
-10.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.41€3.80
$1.61MX$27.65
173.91%
Eggs
$4.39€3.78
$2.59MX$44.51
69.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.90€18.01
$8.26MX$142
153.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.23€9.68
$8.37MX$144
34.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.52€17.68
$10.66MX$183
92.50%
Apples(1kg)
$2.82€2.43
$2.63MX$45.12
7.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.93€1.66
$1.49MX$25.53
29.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.86€2.47
$1.92MX$32.94
48.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.45€2.98
$2.09MX$35.81
65.07%
Potato(1kg)
$1.62€1.39
$1.86MX$31.88
-12.90%
Onion(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$2.26MX$38.81
-23.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.65€1.42
$1.06MX$18.23
55.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30€0.26
$1.09MX$18.67
-72.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13€6.15
$4.15MX$71.2
71.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.06€6.94
$10.39MX$178
-22.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71€1.47
$1.72MX$29.59
-0.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45€2.11
$2.61MX$44.85
-6.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Colleferro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.78€1.53
$0.54MX$9.30
229.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.49€37.47
$26.94MX$462
61.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.95€5.13
$3.13MX$53.7
90.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.78€1.53
$2.51MX$43.09
-29.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$36.33€31.30
$3.15MX$54.1
1053.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.05€1.76
$1.27MX$21.88
61.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K€27.9K
$30.4KMX$521.3K
6.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1K€26.8K
$23.6KMX$404.5K
32.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Colleferro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$207€179
$83.0MX$1,425
149.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.56€11.68
$22.71MX$390
-40.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.48€29.71
$29.46MX$506
17.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Colleferro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.9€47.29
$51.0MX$875
7.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.91€19.74
$18.33MX$315
24.99%
Cinema Ticket
$9.17€7.90
$4.93MX$84.5
86.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Colleferro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$758€653
$197MX$3,386
284.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,900€6,807
$5,280MX$90.6K
49.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Colleferro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.0€74.1
$36.90MX$633
133.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.56€27.19
$39.89MX$685
-20.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.0€75.0
$80.0MX$1,373
8.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$147€126
$89.5MX$1,536
63.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Colleferro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$742€639
$956MX$16.4K
-22.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$577€498
$477MX$8,189
21.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,215€1,047
$1,646MX$28.3K
-26.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$941€811
$1,225MX$21.0K
-23.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,878€2,479
$3,918MX$67.2K
-26.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,296€1,978
$6,459MX$110.9K
-64.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Colleferro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,802€2,414
$667MX$11.4K
320.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.96
11.42
-65.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Colleferro: June 7, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $742 in Colleferro and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Colleferro pays 320% 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: $94.0 in Colleferro vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $351 vs $250 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
Colleferro vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Colleferro or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 38% lower than in Colleferro. 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 Colleferro or Playa del Carmen?
Colleferro pays 320% 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Colleferro vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $742 in Colleferro versus $956 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 Colleferro vs Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $94.0 in Colleferro. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Colleferro compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,759 per month in Colleferro versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Colleferro or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,759 in Colleferro, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Colleferro. 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, Colleferro or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,271 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Colleferro compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Colleferro 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 Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Colleferro. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Colleferro vs other spots: cost of living compared