😐A single person spends $1,900 per month in Crewe vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,190 per month in Crewe vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,479 per month in Crewe vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Crewe costs about 51% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Crewe sits 42% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Crewe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.52£15.27
$11.99MX$209
71.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.5£60.6
$41.78MX$728
94.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.48£7.06
$10.75MX$187
-11.81%
Cappuccino
$4.72£3.51
$3.50MX$60.9
34.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15£1.60
$1.45MX$25.22
48.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25£0.93
$0.88MX$15.41
42.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.87£3.63
$2.95MX$51.3
65.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.38£4.01
$4.51MX$78.6
19.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Crewe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73£1.29
$1.43MX$24.94
20.98%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25£0.93
$1.84MX$31.99
-32.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.55£1.90
$1.57MX$27.31
62.42%
Eggs
$3.03£2.26
$2.51MX$43.74
20.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.04£4.50
$8.28MX$144
-27.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.34£5.46
$8.43MX$147
-12.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.79£10.27
$10.68MX$186
29.12%
Apples(1kg)
$2.06£1.53
$2.61MX$45.43
-21.07%
Banana(1kg)
$1.86£1.39
$1.44MX$25.04
29.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87£1.39
$1.96MX$34.16
-4.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.81£2.09
$2.09MX$36.47
34.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.64£1.22
$1.85MX$32.24
-11.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48£1.10
$2.17MX$37.74
-31.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09£0.81
$1.03MX$17.96
5.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31£0.98
$1.07MX$18.70
22.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.77£13.97
$4.10MX$71.4
357.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.23£7.62
$10.17MX$177
0.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.33£2.48
$1.68MX$29.17
98.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.22£3.14
$2.53MX$43.98
66.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Crewe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$6.88£5.12
$0.51MX$8.87
1249.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$60.4£44.94
$26.04MX$453
131.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.48£4.08
$3.23MX$56.3
69.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.28£0.95
$2.41MX$41.88
-46.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.40£16.67
$3.23MX$56.2
593.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99£1.48
$1.32MX$23.00
50.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2K£24.0K
$29.7KMX$517.1K
8.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.4K£28.6K
$23.7KMX$412.0K
62.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Crewe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$300£223
$82.0MX$1,428
265.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.23£14.32
$22.95MX$400
-16.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.02£29.05
$30.11MX$524
29.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Crewe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.51£30.16
$52.0MX$905
-22.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.55£15.30
$18.53MX$323
10.90%
Cinema Ticket
$15.40£11.47
$4.98MX$86.6
209.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Crewe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,245£927
$197MX$3,438
530.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.3K£9,137
$5,336MX$92.9K
129.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Crewe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.5£72.6
$35.60MX$620
173.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.06£28.33
$40.33MX$702
-5.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121£89.8
$78.8MX$1,371
53.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.2£66.4
$88.9MX$1,549
0.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Crewe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$803£598
$947MX$16.5K
-15.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$682£508
$474MX$8,254
43.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,043£1,521
$1,644MX$28.6K
24.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,753£1,305
$1,211MX$21.1K
44.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,311£2,465
$4,056MX$70.6K
-18.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,301£2,458
$6,470MX$112.7K
-48.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Crewe
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,084£2,296
$654MX$11.4K
371.61%
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $803 in Crewe versus $947 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 372% 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 $81.0 in Crewe versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $265 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 51% 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 and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,851 per month in Crewe and $1,884 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $1,245 per month in Crewe and $197 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 7% 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 in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Crewe at $1,900. 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 $1,256 versus $1,900 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 to 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.