😐A single person spends $1,932 per month in Crewe vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,152 per month in Crewe vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,372 per month in Crewe vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Crewe costs about 49% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Crewe sits 44% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Crewe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.54£15.30
$11.73MX$203
75.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.7£60.8
$41.62MX$721
96.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.75£7.26
$10.64MX$184
-8.36%
Cappuccino
$4.54£3.38
$3.52MX$61.0
28.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10£1.57
$1.51MX$26.17
39.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24£0.92
$0.97MX$16.87
27.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.95£3.69
$2.95MX$51.1
67.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.33£3.97
$4.45MX$77.2
19.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Crewe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.69£1.26
$1.38MX$23.97
22.46%
White Bread(500g)
$1.22£0.91
$1.89MX$32.78
-35.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.64£1.97
$1.64MX$28.37
60.98%
Eggs
$2.92£2.17
$2.51MX$43.42
16.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.21£4.63
$8.34MX$145
-25.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.99£5.21
$8.34MX$145
-16.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.27£10.63
$10.73MX$186
32.99%
Apples(1kg)
$2.07£1.54
$2.60MX$45.12
-20.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.78£1.33
$1.46MX$25.25
21.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97£1.47
$1.90MX$32.94
3.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.72£2.02
$2.08MX$35.98
30.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.73£1.29
$1.78MX$30.77
-2.81%
Onion(1kg)
$1.41£1.05
$2.19MX$37.87
-35.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06£0.79
$1.04MX$18.02
1.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.32£0.98
$1.08MX$18.66
22.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.86£14.05
$4.08MX$70.7
362.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.27£6.91
$10.32MX$179
-10.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.31£2.47
$1.71MX$29.67
93.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.24£3.16
$2.58MX$44.63
64.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Crewe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$6.66£4.96
$0.51MX$8.83
1205.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$61.5£45.82
$26.46MX$459
132.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.36£3.99
$3.26MX$56.5
64.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.24£0.92
$2.49MX$43.17
-50.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.28£17.34
$3.25MX$56.3
616.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.92£1.43
$1.31MX$22.65
46.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2K£24.0K
$30.3KMX$524.7K
6.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.1K£28.4K
$23.4KMX$406.0K
62.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Crewe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$300£224
$82.9MX$1,436
262.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.87£14.06
$22.22MX$385
-15.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.63£29.51
$29.34MX$508
35.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Crewe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.82£30.40
$51.6MX$895
-20.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.61£15.35
$18.32MX$317
12.50%
Cinema Ticket
$15.23£11.35
$5.07MX$87.8
200.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Crewe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,226£913
$201MX$3,480
510.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.4K£9,248
$5,212MX$90.3K
138.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Crewe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$100£74.7
$36.92MX$640
171.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.14£27.66
$39.79MX$689
-6.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120£89.1
$78.5MX$1,360
52.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.4£65.1
$87.1MX$1,509
0.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Crewe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$822£613
$973MX$16.9K
-15.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$669£498
$468MX$8,105
43.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,043£1,522
$1,641MX$28.4K
24.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,706£1,270
$1,221MX$21.2K
39.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,423£2,550
$3,946MX$68.4K
-13.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,354£2,498
$6,498MX$112.6K
-48.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Crewe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,034£2,260
$664MX$11.5K
357.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.76
11.42
-49.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Crewe: May 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $822 in Crewe versus $973 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.
💰Salaries run about 357% higher in Crewe, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $82.0 in Crewe versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $262 vs $249 – 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
Crewe vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Crewe or Playa del Carmen?
Crewe costs about 49% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Crewe vs Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,898 per month in Crewe and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Crewe or 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.
How do childcare costs compare in Crewe and Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $1,226 per month in Crewe and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Crewe or Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 5% more in Crewe, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Crewe or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Crewe at $1,932. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Crewe it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Crewe or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,297 versus $1,932 in Crewe. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Crewe compared to Playa del Carmen?
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.
Should I move to Crewe or Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Crewe makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.