Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuenca and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuenca and Playa del Carmen

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Cuenca is 34.7% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 28.3% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Cuenca is 18.8% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 42.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Cuenca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44 $3.44
$11.99 MX$227
-71.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.89 $24.89
$42.47 MX$803
-41.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.07 $7.07
$10.47 MX$198
-32.47%
Cappuccino
$2.47 $2.47
$3.6 MX$68.2
-31.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 $0.79
$1.44 MX$27.16
-45.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 $0.66
$0.89 MX$16.79
-25.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.02 $2.02
$3.09 MX$58.5
-34.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 $3.42
$4.58 MX$86.6
-25.33%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Cuenca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.38 MX$26.04
-17.39%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 $1.68
$1.85 MX$34.9
-9.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.5 $1.5
$1.57 MX$29.68
-4.46%
Eggs
$2.18 $2.18
$2.55 MX$48.3
-14.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$8.61 MX$163
-35.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$8.54 MX$161
-35.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.36 $6.36
$10.98 MX$208
-42.08%
Apples (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$2.72 MX$51.4
-46.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.51 MX$28.57
-31.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.88 MX$35.63
-38.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.06 $1.06
$2.19 MX$41.42
-51.60%
Potato (1kg)
$1.48 $1.48
$1.87 MX$35.3
-20.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.03 $1.03
$2.19 MX$41.37
-52.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.46 $0.46
$1.07 MX$20.23
-57.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 $1.07
$1.09 MX$20.64
-1.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77 $5.77
$3.96 MX$74.9
45.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.91 $9.91
$8.86 MX$167
11.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43 $1.43
$1.72 MX$32.53
-16.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 $3.16
$2.61 MX$49.37
21.07%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Cuenca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 $0.34
$0.52 MX$9.74
-34.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.02 $27.02
$26.59 MX$503
1.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.68 $0.68
$3.24 MX$61.2
-79.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.98 $0.98
$2.38 MX$44.94
-58.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.4 $13.4
$3.11 MX$58.7
330.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.66 $0.66
$1.31 MX$24.85
-49.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K $29.7K
$30.3K MX$573K
-1.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29K $29K
$24K MX$453.6K
20.86%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cuenca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.72 $39.72
$84.2 MX$1,592
-52.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.99 $13.99
$22.14 MX$419
-36.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.92 $30.92
$30.14 MX$570
2.59%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Cuenca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.84 $28.84
$52 MX$983
-44.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.06 $5.06
$18.72 MX$354
-72.97%
Cinema Ticket
$7.45 $7.45
$5.07 MX$95.9
46.94%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Cuenca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$259 $259
$200 MX$3,787
29.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,712 $5,712
$5,333 MX$100.8K
7.11%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Cuenca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 $55.7
$35.74 MX$676
55.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.2 $53.2
$39.8 MX$753
33.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 $100
$79 MX$1,493
26.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.6 $66.6
$88.4 MX$1,671
-24.68%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Cuenca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$366 $366
$965 MX$18.3K
-62.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$330 $330
$474 MX$8,968
-30.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$682 $682
$1,653 MX$31.2K
-58.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$508 $508
$1,202 MX$22.7K
-57.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,328 $1,328
$3,081 MX$58.3K
-56.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,185 $1,185
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-84.26%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Cuenca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$481 $481
$792 MX$15K
-39.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.48
11.42
0.53%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Cuenca: October 27, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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