😐A single person spends $2,207 per month in Collie vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,261 per month in Collie vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,315 per month in Collie vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Collie costs about 72% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Collie sits 65% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Collie
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.51A$22.95
$11.94MX$208
38.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.7A$108
$42.75MX$744
81.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.48A$14.57
$10.59MX$184
-1.04%
Cappuccino
$3.76A$5.22
$3.62MX$63.0
3.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54A$3.53
$1.47MX$25.54
72.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00A$2.77
$0.94MX$16.41
112.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.72A$10.73
$3.09MX$53.8
149.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.40A$8.89
$4.46MX$77.6
43.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Collie
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42A$1.97
$1.43MX$24.80
-0.70%
White Bread(500g)
$2.43A$3.37
$1.88MX$32.79
29.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.96A$2.72
$1.63MX$28.34
20.25%
Eggs
$4.46A$6.20
$2.64MX$45.99
68.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.41A$11.69
$8.21MX$143
2.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.47A$11.78
$8.29MX$144
2.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.79A$19.17
$11.10MX$193
24.23%
Apples(1kg)
$3.42A$4.75
$2.65MX$46.14
29.06%
Banana(1kg)
$2.90A$4.03
$1.50MX$26.11
93.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.84A$3.95
$1.99MX$34.59
42.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.75A$6.60
$2.08MX$36.13
128.37%
Potato(1kg)
$2.45A$3.41
$1.79MX$31.11
36.87%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78A$2.48
$2.18MX$37.87
-18.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.99A$2.76
$1.08MX$18.73
84.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50A$2.09
$1.04MX$18.04
44.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$31.26A$43.45
$3.97MX$69.1
687.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.77A$14.97
$10.20MX$178
5.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.79A$5.27
$1.73MX$30.04
119.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04A$5.62
$2.50MX$43.46
61.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Collie
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.65A$3.68
$0.52MX$9.02
409.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$64.4A$89.6
$26.97MX$469
138.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.89A$5.41
$3.14MX$54.7
23.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.12A$2.94
$2.40MX$41.80
-11.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$48.87A$67.9
$3.09MX$53.7
1481.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.11A$1.54
$1.27MX$22.16
-12.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3KA$40.7K
$30.9KMX$537.3K
-5.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8KA$34.5K
$23.3KMX$405.7K
6.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Collie
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$155A$215
$82.0MX$1,427
88.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.74A$38.55
$22.45MX$391
23.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.5A$78.5
$29.66MX$516
90.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Collie
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.97A$66.7
$51.9MX$903
-7.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.45A$21.47
$18.67MX$325
-17.25%
Cinema Ticket
$16.57A$23.03
$4.97MX$86.5
233.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Collie
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,757A$2,442
$198MX$3,442
788.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.2KA$16.9K
$5,273MX$91.7K
131.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Collie
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.8A$98.5
$36.34MX$632
94.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.19A$65.6
$40.05MX$697
17.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104A$144
$79.9MX$1,390
30.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107A$149
$88.9MX$1,547
20.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Collie
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,280A$1,779
$963MX$16.8K
32.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,075A$1,494
$465MX$8,086
131.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,045A$2,843
$1,596MX$27.8K
28.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,692A$2,352
$1,209MX$21.0K
39.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,045A$8,403
$3,942MX$68.6K
53.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,988A$6,934
$6,448MX$112.2K
-22.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Collie
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$720MX$12.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.42
11.42
-43.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Collie: April 26, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,280 in Collie versus $963 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 $78.0 in Collie versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $328 vs $251 – 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
Collie vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Collie and Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,207 in Collie, $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 72% apart. Collie costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Collie compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,311 per month in Collie and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Collie and 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.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Collie and Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $1,757 per month in Collie and $198 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 31% more in Collie, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,287, than in Collie at $2,207. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Collie it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Collie and Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,287 in Playa del Carmen to $2,207 in Collie. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Collie or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Collie and Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Collie makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.