Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Delft and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,215 a month against $2,763 in Delft, rent and utilities included – about $18,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Delft
🇳🇱 Netherlands
$2,763
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,215
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Delft and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Delft and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,763 in Delft versus $1,215 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Delft $2,763
  • Playa del Carmen $1,215

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,996 in Delft versus $2,144 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Delft $3,996
  • Playa del Carmen $2,144

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,230 in Delft versus $3,072 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Delft $5,230
  • Playa del Carmen $3,072

Living in Delft is roughly 127% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Delft is 106% above, Playa del Carmen is 9% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Delft
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.41 €20.00
$10.97 MX$201
104.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$97.1 €86.7
$44.85 MX$823
116.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.57 €12.11
$11.92 MX$219
13.84%
Cappuccino
$4.00 €3.57
$3.80 MX$69.9
5.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81 €3.40
$1.31 MX$24.08
190.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 €2.58
$0.86 MX$15.72
236.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.33 €5.65
$3.21 MX$59.0
97.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.70 €5.09
$5.01 MX$92.0
13.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Delft
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 €1.25
$1.46 MX$26.77
-4.11%
White Bread (500g)
$2.08 €1.86
$2.33 MX$42.72
-10.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.88 €2.57
$1.44 MX$26.48
100.00%
Eggs
$4.95 €4.42
$2.46 MX$45.20
101.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.41 €14.64
$7.70 MX$141
113.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.87 €14.16
$7.89 MX$145
101.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.46 €15.58
$12.80 MX$235
36.41%
Apples (1kg)
$2.79 €2.49
$2.92 MX$53.6
-4.45%
Banana (1kg)
$2.37 €2.12
$1.42 MX$26.11
66.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.84 €1.64
$2.57 MX$47.10
-28.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.73 €4.22
$2.14 MX$39.24
121.03%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 €1.75
$1.95 MX$35.75
0.51%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 €2.04
$1.94 MX$35.55
17.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.27 €1.14
$1.15 MX$21.13
10.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 €0.70
$1.22 MX$22.42
-36.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.86 €12.37
$4.38 MX$80.3
216.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.98 €6.23
$9.85 MX$181
-29.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.49 €1.33
$1.54 MX$28.23
-3.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 €2.45
$2.72 MX$49.86
0.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Delft
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €2.03
$0.52 MX$9.64
338.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$78.2 €69.8
$27.42 MX$503
185.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.42 €3.05
$4.91 MX$90.2
-30.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.45 €3.08
$3.52 MX$64.7
-1.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$50.9 €45.46
$5.69 MX$104
795.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.42 €2.16
$1.54 MX$28.27
57.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.6K €37.2K
$21.2K MX$389.9K
96.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K €35.4K
$24.5K MX$449.6K
62.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Delft
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$263 €235
$83.6 MX$1,535
214.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.11 €26.87
$24.03 MX$441
25.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.59 €37.12
$29.33 MX$539
41.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Delft
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.38 €36.04
$64.9 MX$1,191
-37.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.59 €7.67
$29.46 MX$541
-70.84%
Cinema Ticket
$15.01 €13.39
$5.09 MX$93.4
194.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Delft
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,581 €1,411
$208 MX$3,813
661.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,731 €6,007
$4,045 MX$74.3K
66.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Delft
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.0 €75.0
$44.55 MX$818
88.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.83 €44.46
$42.06 MX$772
18.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.1 €79.5
$75.5 MX$1,387
17.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$151 €135
$91.4 MX$1,678
65.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Delft
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,737 €1,551
$986 MX$18.1K
76.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,403 €1,252
$385 MX$7,072
264.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,740 €2,445
$1,713 MX$31.5K
59.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,224 €1,985
$1,108 MX$20.4K
100.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,778 €6,049
$4,016 MX$73.7K
68.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,379 €3,907
$6,247 MX$114.7K
-29.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Delft
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,537 €3,156
$758 MX$13.9K
366.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.89
11.45
-66.03%

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

Last update for Delft: October 3, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Delft
$1.4K
Playa del Carmen
$385 72.5% $1K
Groceries & Markets
Delft
$358
Playa del Carmen
$260 27.3% $98
Eating Out
Delft
$338
Playa del Carmen
$204 39.6% $134
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Delft
$335
Playa del Carmen
$137 59.1% $198
Clothing & Footwear
Delft
$168
Playa del Carmen
$114 32.2% $54
Getting Around
Delft
$108
Playa del Carmen
$52 51.8% $56
Sport & Entertainment
Delft
$70
Playa del Carmen
$75 6.6% $4.6

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,737 in Delft and $986 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Delft pays 367% 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: $97.0 in Delft vs $45.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $358 vs $260 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇳🇱 Delft
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
08:33 8:33 AM
01:33 1:33 AM
7 h behind Delft
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
106,086
149,923
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 18.36 MXN (100 MXN = 5.45 USD). 1 EUR = 20.59 MXN (100 MXN = 4.86 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Delft Playa del Carmen 8,310 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Delft
  • Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Delft vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Delft and in Playa del Carmen?
Delft and Playa del Carmen differ by about 127% in total monthly costs ($2,763 vs $1,215 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Delft or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 367% higher in Delft, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Delft and in Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,737 in Delft versus $986 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Delft and in Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 185% less than in Delft. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Delft and Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $1,581 in Delft versus $208 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,215 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,763 in Delft, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Delft. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Delft and Playa del Carmen?
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.
Is Delft or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Delft 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.
Where should expats move: Delft or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 127% less than in Delft. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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