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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,269 per month in Derby vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,490 per month in Derby vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,712 per month in Derby vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Derby costs about 79% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Derby sits 66% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Derby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$26.47 £19.78
$11.60 MX$200
128.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$96.3 £72.0
$47.11 MX$812
104.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.82 £8.09
$11.88 MX$205
-8.92%
Cappuccino
$5.07 £3.79
$3.98 MX$68.6
27.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 £1.99
$1.43 MX$24.60
86.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 £1.53
$0.82 MX$14.22
148.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.79 £5.07
$3.19 MX$55.0
112.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.48 £5.59
$6.79 MX$117
10.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Derby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.59 £1.19
$1.68 MX$28.89
-5.36%
White Bread (500g)
$1.49 £1.12
$2.20 MX$37.88
-32.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.34 £1.75
$1.71 MX$29.45
36.84%
Eggs
$3.93 £2.94
$2.74 MX$47.26
43.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.65 £6.46
$9.58 MX$165
-9.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.39 £6.27
$9.01 MX$155
-6.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.34 £17.44
$12.81 MX$221
82.20%
Apples (1kg)
$5.54 £4.14
$2.89 MX$49.81
91.70%
Banana (1kg)
$2.82 £2.11
$1.50 MX$25.81
88.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.13 £2.34
$2.15 MX$37.03
45.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.84 £2.87
$2.26 MX$38.96
69.91%
Potato (1kg)
$1.55 £1.16
$1.98 MX$34.15
-21.72%
Onion (1kg)
$1.66 £1.24
$1.99 MX$34.30
-16.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 £0.80
$1.23 MX$21.28
-13.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 £1.04
$1.20 MX$20.63
15.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$24.25 £18.12
$4.55 MX$78.5
432.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.73 £8.02
$10.37 MX$179
3.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.21 £2.40
$1.62 MX$27.91
98.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.77 £2.82
$2.88 MX$49.67
30.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Derby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.09 £2.31
$0.60 MX$10.35
415.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$94.3 £70.5
$28.80 MX$497
227.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.43 £3.31
$5.39 MX$92.9
-17.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.69 £1.26
$3.73 MX$64.3
-54.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.16 £24.03
$5.77 MX$99.5
457.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.02 £1.51
$1.54 MX$26.48
31.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3K £29.3K
$22.5K MX$388.8K
74.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.5K £31.0K
$26.1K MX$449.3K
59.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Derby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$365 £273
$91.4 MX$1,576
299.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.35 £15.21
$25.20 MX$435
-19.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.00 £30.64
$31.24 MX$539
31.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Derby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.06 £34.42
$67.2 MX$1,159
-31.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.21 £19.58
$29.11 MX$502
-9.96%
Cinema Ticket
$15.63 £11.68
$4.86 MX$83.8
221.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Derby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,862 £1,391
$224 MX$3,856
732.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.3K £15.1K
$4,229 MX$72.9K
379.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Derby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$119 £88.9
$47.10 MX$812
152.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.6 £43.78
$44.29 MX$764
32.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.7 £64.8
$80.1 MX$1,381
8.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100 £74.9
$92.7 MX$1,598
8.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Derby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$798 £597
$1,063 MX$18.3K
-24.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$728 £544
$390 MX$6,728
86.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,638 £1,224
$2,149 MX$37.1K
-23.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,324 £990
$1,272 MX$21.9K
4.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,757 £4,302
$4,001 MX$69.0K
43.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,148 £2,353
$6,502 MX$112.1K
-51.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Derby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,612 £2,699
$758 MX$13.1K
376.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.88
11.45
-57.38%

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

Last update for Derby: September 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $798 in Derby versus $1,063 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 376% higher in Derby, 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 $96.0 in Derby versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $344 vs $276 – making Playa del Carmen 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
Derby vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Derby or Playa del Carmen?
Derby costs about 79% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Derby and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,403 per month in Derby and $1,899 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Derby or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Derby and in Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $1,862 per month in Derby and $224 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Derby or in Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 25% more in Derby, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Derby or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,266, than in Derby at $2,269. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Derby it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Derby or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,266 versus $2,269 in Derby. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Derby or to Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Derby makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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