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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $170 per month in Derna vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $333 per month in Derna vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $497 per month in Derna vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Derna is about 87% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Derna and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Derna 87% lower, Playa del Carmen 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.52 LYD 28.67

$11.94 MX$208

-62.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.32 LYD 59.1

$42.75 MX$744

-78.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.59 LYD 22.74

$10.59 MX$184

-66.10%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.53 LYD 3.34

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 LYD 4.81

Cappuccino

$0.56 LYD 3.58

$3.62 MX$63.0

-84.53%

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

$0.36 LYD 2.27

$1.47 MX$25.54

-75.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 MX$16.41

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 MX$53.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 MX$77.6

Milk (1 liter)

$0.69 LYD 4.40

$1.43 MX$24.80

-51.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.79

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 MX$28.34

Eggs

$0.74 LYD 4.71

$2.64 MX$45.99

-71.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.21 MX$143

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$144

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.10 MX$193

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 MX$46.14

Banana (1kg)

$0.89 LYD 5.66

$1.50 MX$26.11

-40.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.59

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.13

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 MX$31.11

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$37.87

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MX$18.73

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 MX$18.04

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.97 MX$69.1

Wine (Bottle)

$10.20 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.04

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 MX$43.46

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 MX$9.02

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.97 MX$469

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.95 LYD 6.04

$3.14 MX$54.7

-69.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.80

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 MX$53.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 MX$22.16

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

$30.9K MX$537.3K

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

$23.3K MX$405.7K

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

$82.0 MX$1,427

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

$22.45 MX$391

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.21 LYD 103

$29.66 MX$516

-45.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 MX$903

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$325

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 MX$86.5

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

$198 MX$3,442

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,273 MX$91.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.47 LYD 231

$36.34 MX$632

0.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.49 LYD 295

$40.05 MX$697

16.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.18 LYD 293

$79.9 MX$1,390

-42.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.55 LYD 295

$88.9 MX$1,547

-47.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$963 MX$16.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MX$8,086

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$182 LYD 1,151

$1,596 MX$27.8K

-88.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$111 LYD 703

$1,209 MX$21.0K

-90.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$200 LYD 1,269

$3,942 MX$68.6K

-94.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$79.4 LYD 503

$6,448 MX$112.2K

-98.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$172 LYD 1,088

$720 MX$12.5K

-76.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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

Last update for Derna: April 28, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 320% 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 $9.00 in Derna versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $15.00 vs $251 – making Derna 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

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

Playa del Carmen costs about 659% more than Derna, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $254 per month in Derna and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $170 in Derna and $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 1542% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Derna, where all-in costs run around $170, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Derna it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Derna costs $170 versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Derna. 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.