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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $997 per month in David vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,168 per month in David vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,338 per month in David vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

David is about 23% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both David and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – David 26% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.04 PAB 5.04

$11.73 MX$203

-57.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.52 PAB 36.52

$41.62 MX$720

-12.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.81 PAB 6.81

$10.64 MX$184

-36.00%

Cappuccino

$2.66 PAB 2.66

$3.52 MX$60.9

-24.43%

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

$1.41 PAB 1.41

$1.51 MX$26.12

-6.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 PAB 1.38

$0.97 MX$16.84

42.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 PAB 1.46

$2.95 MX$51.0

-50.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 PAB 2.20

$4.45 MX$77.0

-50.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 PAB 1.80

$1.38 MX$23.93

30.43%

White Bread (500g)

$2.14 PAB 2.14

$1.89 MX$32.72

13.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.48 PAB 2.48

$1.64 MX$28.32

51.22%

Eggs

$2.04 PAB 2.04

$2.51 MX$43.34

-18.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.41 PAB 5.41

$8.34 MX$144

-35.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.11 PAB 11.11

$8.34 MX$144

33.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.87 PAB 2.87

$10.73 MX$186

-73.25%

Apples (1kg)

$7.94 PAB 7.94

$2.60 MX$45.04

205.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.20

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.87

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.91

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.71

Onion (1kg)

$2.65 PAB 2.65

$2.19 MX$37.80

21.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.35 PAB 1.35

$1.04 MX$17.99

29.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 PAB 2.52

$1.08 MX$18.62

133.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.6

Wine (Bottle)

$9.81 PAB 9.81

$10.32 MX$178

-4.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.61

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.54

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 PAB 0.78

$0.51 MX$8.81

52.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 PAB 3.02

$3.26 MX$56.4

-7.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.94 PAB 1.94

$2.49 MX$43.09

-22.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 PAB 1.01

$1.31 MX$22.61

-22.90%

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

$24.8K PAB 24.8K

$30.3K MX$523.7K

-18.20%

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

$30.6K PAB 30.6K

$23.4K MX$405.3K

30.47%

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

$174 PAB 174

$82.9 MX$1,433

109.46%

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

$27.59 PAB 27.59

$22.22 MX$384

24.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.92 PAB 42.92

$29.34 MX$507

46.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.56 PAB 30.56

$51.6 MX$893

-40.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.6

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

$201 MX$3,473

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,892 PAB 5,892

$5,212 MX$90.1K

13.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$639

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$688

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,357

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,506

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$346 PAB 346

$973 MX$16.8K

-64.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 PAB 351

$468 MX$8,090

-24.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$591 PAB 591

$664 MX$11.5K

-10.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

-38.70%

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

Last update for David: June 2, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $346 in David 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 12% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 $37.00 in David versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $238 vs $249 – making David 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 30%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,495 per month in David and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in David, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 5% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in David and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in David, where all-in costs run around $997, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In David it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward David – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with David. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.