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 $2,135 per month in Derby vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,223 per month in Derby vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,311 per month in Derby vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Derby costs about 66% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Derby sits 59% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Derby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.83 £18.40
$11.94 MX$209
107.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.9 £59.9
$42.75 MX$748
89.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.82 £8.02
$10.59 MX$185
2.17%
Cappuccino
$4.89 £3.62
$3.62 MX$63.4
35.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 £1.72
$1.47 MX$25.69
58.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 £1.17
$0.94 MX$16.51
68.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.38 £4.73
$3.09 MX$54.1
106.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.46 £4.04
$4.46 MX$78.0
22.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Derby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 £1.09
$1.43 MX$24.94
2.80%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 £1.05
$1.88 MX$32.97
-25.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.46 £1.82
$1.63 MX$28.50
50.92%
Eggs
$3.94 £2.92
$2.64 MX$46.26
49.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.14 £6.78
$8.21 MX$144
11.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.71 £6.46
$8.29 MX$145
5.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.34 £9.88
$11.10 MX$194
20.18%
Apples (1kg)
$4.61 £3.41
$2.65 MX$46.40
73.96%
Banana (1kg)
$2.71 £2.01
$1.50 MX$26.26
80.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.95 £2.19
$1.99 MX$34.79
48.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.04 £2.25
$2.08 MX$36.33
46.15%
Potato (1kg)
$0.98 £0.72
$1.79 MX$31.29
-45.25%
Onion (1kg)
$1.68 £1.25
$2.18 MX$38.09
-22.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 £0.83
$1.08 MX$18.84
4.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.43 £1.06
$1.04 MX$18.15
37.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.01 £14.08
$3.97 MX$69.5
378.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.64 £7.14
$10.20 MX$179
-5.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.63 £1.95
$1.73 MX$30.22
52.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 £2.38
$2.50 MX$43.71
28.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Derby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.67 £1.98
$0.52 MX$9.07
413.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$94.1 £69.8
$26.97 MX$472
249.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.62 £3.42
$3.14 MX$55.0
47.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 £1.17
$2.40 MX$42.04
-34.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.88 £18.44
$3.09 MX$54.0
705.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.98 £1.47
$1.27 MX$22.28
55.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.8K £28.0K
$30.9K MX$540.4K
22.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.2K £30.5K
$23.3K MX$408.0K
76.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Derby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$351 £260
$82.0 MX$1,435
328.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.46 £11.46
$22.45 MX$393
-31.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.58 £34.52
$29.66 MX$519
57.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Derby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.10 £33.42
$51.9 MX$908
-13.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.32 £18.77
$18.67 MX$327
35.62%
Cinema Ticket
$15.78 £11.69
$4.97 MX$87.0
217.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Derby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,836 £1,361
$198 MX$3,462
828.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.8K £15.4K
$5,273 MX$92.3K
295.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Derby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$120 £88.7
$36.34 MX$636
229.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.8 £43.55
$40.05 MX$701
46.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.6 £59.7
$79.9 MX$1,398
0.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.3 £73.6
$88.9 MX$1,555
11.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Derby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$790 £585
$963 MX$16.9K
-17.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$741 £549
$465 MX$8,133
59.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,478 £1,096
$1,596 MX$27.9K
-7.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,338 £991
$1,209 MX$21.2K
10.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,769 £4,275
$3,942 MX$69.0K
46.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,238 £2,399
$6,448 MX$112.8K
-49.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Derby
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,801 £2,817
$720 MX$12.6K
427.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.56
11.42
-51.31%

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

Last update for Derby: April 25, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $790 in Derby versus $963 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 428% 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 $81.0 in Derby versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $299 vs $251 – 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 66% 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,203 per month in Derby and $1,930 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 Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $1,836 per month in Derby and $198 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 Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 19% 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 Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,287, than in Derby at $2,135. 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 $1,287 versus $2,135 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 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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