🙂A single person spends $546 per month in Delhi vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $861 per month in Delhi vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,176 per month in Delhi vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Delhi is about 58% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Delhi and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Delhi59% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Delhi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.75₹455
$11.73MX$203
-59.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.98₹1,914
$41.62MX$719
-51.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.97₹380
$10.64MX$184
-62.69%
Cappuccino
$2.05₹196
$3.52MX$60.8
-41.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47₹45.30
$1.51MX$26.09
-68.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15₹14.67
$0.97MX$16.82
-84.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.06₹197
$2.95MX$51.0
-30.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39₹325
$4.45MX$77.0
-23.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Delhi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.75₹71.8
$1.38MX$23.90
-45.65%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56₹53.6
$1.89MX$32.69
-70.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.91₹87.5
$1.64MX$28.29
-44.51%
Eggs
$1.12₹107
$2.51MX$43.30
-55.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.55₹436
$8.34MX$144
-45.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.55₹340
$8.34MX$144
-57.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$10.73MX$185
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.01₹193
$2.60MX$45.00
-22.69%
Banana(1kg)
$0.84₹80.8
$1.46MX$25.18
-42.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.99₹95.0
$1.90MX$32.84
-47.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.59₹56.6
$2.08MX$35.88
-71.63%
Potato(1kg)
$0.39₹37.26
$1.78MX$30.68
-78.09%
Onion(1kg)
$0.54₹52.0
$2.19MX$37.76
-75.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.61₹58.1
$1.04MX$17.97
-41.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37₹35.16
$1.08MX$18.60
-65.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16₹398
$4.08MX$70.5
1.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.18₹879
$10.32MX$178
-11.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86₹178
$1.71MX$29.59
8.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88₹276
$2.58MX$44.50
11.63%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$5.57₹533
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Delhi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.53₹50.8
$0.51MX$8.81
3.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.61₹1,112
$26.46MX$457
-56.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.56₹54.0
$3.26MX$56.4
-82.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28₹26.60
$2.49MX$43.05
-88.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.30₹124
$3.25MX$56.1
-60.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17₹112
$1.31MX$22.59
-10.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7K₹1.7M
$30.3KMX$523.2K
-41.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9K₹2.3M
$23.4KMX$404.9K
1.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Delhi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$66.4₹6,357
$82.9MX$1,432
-19.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.31₹413
$22.22MX$384
-80.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.99₹765
$29.34MX$507
-72.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Delhi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.25₹1,939
$51.6MX$892
-60.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.15₹972
$18.32MX$317
-44.60%
Cinema Ticket
$4.61₹442
$5.07MX$87.5
-9.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Delhi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$78.5₹7,521
$201MX$3,470
-60.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,010₹192.5K
$5,212MX$90.1K
-61.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Delhi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.20₹2,605
$36.92MX$638
-26.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.17₹2,985
$39.79MX$688
-21.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$48.50₹4,645
$78.5MX$1,356
-38.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.01₹3,449
$87.1MX$1,505
-58.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Delhi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$239₹22.9K
$973MX$16.8K
-75.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$135₹12.9K
$468MX$8,082
-71.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$584₹55.9K
$1,641MX$28.4K
-64.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$322₹30.8K
$1,221MX$21.1K
-73.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,503₹239.7K
$3,946MX$68.2K
-36.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$931₹89.2K
$6,498MX$112.3K
-85.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Delhi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$531₹50.8K
$664MX$11.5K
-20.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9
11.42
-21.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Delhi: June 1, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $239 in Delhi 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 25% 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 $20.00 in Delhi versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $117 vs $249 – making Delhi 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
Delhi vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Delhi and Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $546 in Delhi, $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 137% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Delhi compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $819 per month in Delhi and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Delhi and Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Delhi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Delhi and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Delhi or Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $546 in Delhi and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Delhi, where all-in costs run around $546, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Delhi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Delhi and Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $546 in Delhi to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Delhi and Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Delhi. 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.