🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $383 in Cuttack versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $605 in Cuttack versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $826 in Cuttack versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Cuttack costs roughly 70% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cuttack71% lower, Playa del Carmen4% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cuttack
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.60₹151
$11.94MX$208
-86.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.26₹877
$42.75MX$744
-78.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.36₹412
$10.59MX$184
-58.83%
Cappuccino
$1.52₹144
$3.62MX$63.0
-58.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36₹33.91
$1.47MX$25.54
-75.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15₹13.95
$0.94MX$16.41
-84.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.36₹129
$3.09MX$53.8
-55.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27₹215
$4.46MX$77.6
-49.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cuttack
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.57₹53.7
$1.43MX$24.80
-60.14%
White Bread(500g)
$0.42₹39.49
$1.88MX$32.79
-77.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.52₹49.00
$1.63MX$28.34
-68.10%
Eggs
$0.95₹90.1
$2.64MX$45.99
-64.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.65₹345
$8.21MX$143
-55.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.68₹254
$8.29MX$144
-67.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$11.10MX$193
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.31₹219
$2.65MX$46.14
-12.83%
Banana(1kg)
$0.68₹64.5
$1.50MX$26.11
-54.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.36₹128
$1.99MX$34.59
-31.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.50₹46.89
$2.08MX$36.13
-75.96%
Potato(1kg)
$0.26₹24.60
$1.79MX$31.11
-85.47%
Onion(1kg)
$0.28₹26.23
$2.18MX$37.87
-87.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.47₹44.19
$1.08MX$18.73
-56.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35₹33.43
$1.04MX$18.04
-66.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.38₹225
$3.97MX$69.1
-40.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.75₹449
$10.20MX$178
-53.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69₹160
$1.73MX$30.04
-2.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90₹274
$2.50MX$43.46
16.00%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$7.95₹752
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Cuttack
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.24₹22.71
$0.52MX$9.02
-53.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.64₹1,196
$26.97MX$469
-53.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.24₹22.75
$3.14MX$54.7
-92.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.24₹22.80
$2.40MX$41.80
-90.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.37₹225
$3.09MX$53.7
-23.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17₹111
$1.27MX$22.16
-7.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.0K₹1.0M
$30.9KMX$537.3K
-64.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K₹1.9M
$23.3KMX$405.7K
-12.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cuttack
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$36.81₹3,483
$82.0MX$1,427
-55.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.21₹304
$22.45MX$391
-85.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.55₹809
$29.66MX$516
-71.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cuttack
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.68₹2,051
$51.9MX$903
-58.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.83₹552
$18.67MX$325
-68.77%
Cinema Ticket
$3.54₹335
$4.97MX$86.5
-28.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cuttack
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$86.1₹8,150
$198MX$3,442
-56.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,031₹192.2K
$5,273MX$91.7K
-61.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cuttack
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.56₹1,567
$36.34MX$632
-54.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$13.70₹1,296
$40.05MX$697
-65.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$51.0₹4,821
$79.9MX$1,390
-36.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$24.89₹2,355
$88.9MX$1,547
-72.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cuttack
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$150₹14.1K
$963MX$16.8K
-84.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$94.7₹8,956
$465MX$8,086
-79.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$318₹30.1K
$1,596MX$27.8K
-80.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$212₹20.1K
$1,209MX$21.0K
-82.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$400₹37.9K
$3,942MX$68.6K
-89.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$238₹22.5K
$6,448MX$112.2K
-96.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cuttack
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$444₹42.0K
$720MX$12.5K
-38.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.35
11.42
-35.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cuttack: April 26, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $150 in Cuttack and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 62% 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: $9.00 in Cuttack vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $95.0 vs $251 per month, with Cuttack 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
Cuttack vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Cuttack?
Cuttack is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 236% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cuttack or Playa del Carmen?
On paper, Playa del Carmen earns 62% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Cuttack and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $150 in Cuttack versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cuttack vs Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $383 per month in Cuttack versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – a 236% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Cuttack runs roughly 113% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Cuttack or Playa del Carmen?
At $383 in Cuttack versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cuttack but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Cuttack the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cuttack or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Cuttack is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cuttack or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Cuttack 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Cuttack gentler on the wallet – expenses run 236% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.