Cost of Living Comparison Between Crooked Island and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Crooked Island and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,171 in Crooked Island versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,571 in Crooked Island versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,971 in Crooked Island versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Crooked Island is roughly 72% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Crooked Island is 59% above, Playa del Carmen is 7% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$49.01 BSD 49.01

$11.60 MX$200

322.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.11 MX$812

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.01 BSD 13.01

$11.88 MX$205

9.51%

Cappuccino

$3.90 BSD 3.90

$3.98 MX$68.6

-2.01%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 BSD 3.91

$1.43 MX$24.60

173.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 BSD 1.95

$0.82 MX$14.22

137.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.09 BSD 5.09

$3.19 MX$55.0

59.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.06 BSD 5.06

$6.79 MX$117

-25.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$7.86 BSD 7.86

$1.68 MX$28.89

367.86%

White Bread (500g)

$6.10 BSD 6.10

$2.20 MX$37.88

177.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.45 BSD 3.45

$1.71 MX$29.45

101.75%

Eggs

$11.43 BSD 11.43

$2.74 MX$47.26

317.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.13 BSD 13.13

$9.58 MX$165

37.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.01 MX$155

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.07 BSD 8.07

$12.81 MX$221

-37.00%

Apples (1kg)

$14.08 BSD 14.08

$2.89 MX$49.81

387.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.81

Oranges (1kg)

$1.28 BSD 1.28

$2.15 MX$37.03

-40.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$12.17 BSD 12.17

$2.26 MX$38.96

438.50%

Potato (1kg)

$2.21 BSD 2.21

$1.98 MX$34.15

11.62%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 BSD 2.81

$1.99 MX$34.30

41.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 BSD 0.99

$1.23 MX$21.28

-19.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 BSD 1.94

$1.20 MX$20.63

61.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 MX$78.5

Wine (Bottle)

$30.14 BSD 30.14

$10.37 MX$179

190.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.93 BSD 4.93

$1.62 MX$27.91

204.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.91 BSD 4.91

$2.88 MX$49.67

70.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.35

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$497

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.39 MX$92.9

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.07 BSD 2.07

$3.73 MX$64.3

-44.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.48

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.5K MX$388.8K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.1K MX$449.3K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$221 BSD 221

$91.4 MX$1,576

141.65%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$60.2 BSD 60.2

$25.20 MX$435

138.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.9 BSD 68.9

$31.24 MX$539

120.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 MX$1,159

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$502

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$83.8

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$224 MX$3,856

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,229 MX$72.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.4 BSD 81.4

$47.10 MX$812

72.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.63 BSD 49.63

$44.29 MX$764

12.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$249 BSD 249

$80.1 MX$1,381

211.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.7 BSD 99.7

$92.7 MX$1,598

7.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$560 BSD 560

$1,063 MX$18.3K

-47.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$540 BSD 540

$390 MX$6,728

38.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,611 BSD 1,611

$2,149 MX$37.1K

-25.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,601 BSD 1,601

$1,272 MX$21.9K

25.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$112.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,077 BSD 1,077

$758 MX$13.1K

42.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Crooked Island: September 14, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $560 in Crooked Island and $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Crooked Island pays 42% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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

Crooked Island vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Crooked Island and Playa del Carmen differ by about 72% in total monthly costs ($2,171 vs $1,266 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 42% higher in Crooked Island, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $560 in Crooked Island versus $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 93% higher in Crooked Island. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,171 per month in Crooked Island versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen – a 72% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,171 in Crooked Island, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Crooked Island. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Crooked Island 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.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 72% less than in Crooked Island. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.