😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,349 in Corby versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,257 in Corby versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,164 in Corby versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Corby is roughly 87% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Corby is 76% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Corby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.46£15.21
$11.99MX$210
70.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.4£60.5
$41.78MX$731
94.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.48£6.30
$10.75MX$188
-21.12%
Cappuccino
$4.29£3.19
$3.50MX$61.1
22.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81£2.09
$1.45MX$25.33
93.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67£1.24
$0.88MX$15.47
89.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.40£4.01
$2.95MX$51.6
83.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.32£3.95
$4.51MX$78.9
17.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Corby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67£1.24
$1.43MX$25.04
16.78%
White Bread(500g)
$1.70£1.27
$1.84MX$32.13
-7.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.78£1.32
$1.57MX$27.42
13.38%
Eggs
$3.32£2.47
$2.51MX$43.92
32.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.03£6.71
$8.28MX$145
9.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.66£7.18
$8.43MX$147
14.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.62£12.36
$10.68MX$187
55.62%
Apples(1kg)
$2.36£1.75
$2.61MX$45.62
-9.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08£0.80
$1.44MX$25.15
-25.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.59£2.67
$1.96MX$34.31
83.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.06£2.27
$2.09MX$36.62
46.41%
Potato(1kg)
$1.95£1.45
$1.85MX$32.37
5.41%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78£1.33
$2.17MX$37.90
-17.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.14£0.85
$1.03MX$18.04
10.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.29£0.96
$1.07MX$18.78
20.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.65£13.87
$4.10MX$71.7
354.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.96£6.66
$10.17MX$178
-11.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78£2.07
$1.68MX$29.29
65.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.15£3.09
$2.53MX$44.17
64.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Corby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.66£1.98
$0.51MX$8.90
421.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$81.7£60.7
$26.04MX$455
213.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.78£3.55
$3.23MX$56.5
47.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.22£0.90
$2.41MX$42.06
-49.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$41.71£31.01
$3.23MX$56.5
1191.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.91£1.42
$1.32MX$23.10
44.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.1K£23.1K
$29.7KMX$519.2K
4.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.9K£27.4K
$23.7KMX$413.7K
55.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Corby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$344£256
$82.0MX$1,434
319.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.99£11.88
$22.95MX$401
-30.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.16£29.12
$30.11MX$527
30.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Corby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.76£25.84
$52.0MX$909
-33.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.08£10.46
$18.53MX$324
-24.02%
Cinema Ticket
$11.85£8.81
$4.98MX$87.0
137.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Corby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,279£1,694
$197MX$3,452
1054.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,886£5,119
$5,336MX$93.3K
29.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Corby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.2£58.9
$35.60MX$622
122.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.3£37.42
$40.33MX$705
24.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.6£63.6
$78.8MX$1,377
8.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.3£70.9
$88.9MX$1,555
7.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Corby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$964£717
$947MX$16.6K
1.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,080£803
$474MX$8,288
127.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,004£1,490
$1,644MX$28.7K
21.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,463£1,087
$1,211MX$21.2K
20.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,223£3,883
$4,056MX$70.9K
28.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,470MX$113.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Corby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,283£1,697
$654MX$11.4K
249.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.54
11.42
-51.49%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Corby: July 12, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $964 in Corby and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Corby pays 249% 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: $81.0 in Corby vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 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
Corby vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Corby or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 87% lower than in Corby. 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 Corby or in Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 249% higher in Corby, 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 Corby compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $964 in Corby 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 Corby and in Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $81.0 in Corby. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Corby compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,349 per month in Corby versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – a 87% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Corby or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,349 in Corby, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Corby. 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, Corby 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.
How safe is Corby compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Corby 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 87% less than in Corby. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.