😐A single person spends $2,102 per month in Dilbeek vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,145 per month in Dilbeek vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,188 per month in Dilbeek vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Dilbeek costs about 67% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Dilbeek sits 58% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dilbeek
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.36€20.23
$11.72MX$203
99.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.0€81.4
$41.89MX$725
124.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.11€12.22
$10.51MX$182
34.25%
Cappuccino
$4.33€3.75
$3.59MX$62.0
20.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21€2.78
$1.51MX$26.10
112.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91€2.52
$0.92MX$15.83
216.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.88€5.09
$2.96MX$51.2
98.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.81€5.03
$4.41MX$76.3
31.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dilbeek
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.31€1.13
$1.40MX$24.16
-6.43%
White Bread(500g)
$2.68€2.32
$1.88MX$32.60
42.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.40€2.08
$1.56MX$26.97
53.85%
Eggs
$4.27€3.70
$2.61MX$45.14
63.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.31€14.13
$8.32MX$144
96.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.07€10.45
$8.35MX$145
44.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.46€15.98
$10.86MX$188
69.98%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03€2.63
$2.71MX$46.93
11.81%
Banana(1kg)
$2.48€2.15
$1.51MX$26.04
64.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.76€2.39
$1.87MX$32.41
47.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.04€2.63
$2.19MX$37.89
38.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.89€1.64
$1.86MX$32.14
1.61%
Onion(1kg)
$2.13€1.84
$2.23MX$38.59
-4.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.38€1.20
$1.07MX$18.48
28.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96€0.83
$1.09MX$18.79
-11.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.55€10.87
$4.19MX$72.4
199.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.12€7.90
$10.43MX$180
-12.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98€1.71
$1.66MX$28.68
19.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.61
$2.61MX$45.19
15.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Dilbeek
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92€2.53
$0.54MX$9.37
440.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$55.7€48.27
$26.16MX$453
113.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.40€6.40
$3.08MX$53.3
140.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.37€2.05
$2.40MX$41.61
-1.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.01€30.32
$3.13MX$54.1
1018.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.59
$1.31MX$22.69
40.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0K€29.4K
$29.8KMX$515.7K
14.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.6K€30.8K
$23.3KMX$403.5K
52.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dilbeek
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$232€201
$81.3MX$1,406
185.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.19€18.35
$22.56MX$390
-6.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.1€44.21
$30.05MX$520
69.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dilbeek
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.00€33.77
$52.9MX$915
-26.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.81€14.56
$18.39MX$318
-8.59%
Cinema Ticket
$15.13€13.10
$4.92MX$85.1
207.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dilbeek
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$589€510
$201MX$3,474
193.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.4K€11.6K
$5,175MX$89.5K
159.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dilbeek
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107€92.3
$35.92MX$622
196.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.22€42.62
$40.13MX$694
22.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106€91.5
$79.7MX$1,379
32.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156€135
$86.5MX$1,496
79.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dilbeek
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$910€788
$978MX$16.9K
-6.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$755€654
$470MX$8,140
60.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,358€1,176
$1,651MX$28.6K
-17.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,082€937
$1,203MX$20.8K
-10.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,340€3,758
$3,953MX$68.4K
9.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,145€2,723
$6,607MX$114.3K
-52.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dilbeek
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$677MX$11.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.65
11.42
-68.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dilbeek: July 27, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $910 in Dilbeek versus $978 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $94.0 in Dilbeek versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $349 vs $252 – 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
Dilbeek vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Dilbeek or Playa del Carmen?
Dilbeek costs about 67% 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 Dilbeek and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,152 per month in Dilbeek and $1,890 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Dilbeek 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 Dilbeek and in Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $589 per month in Dilbeek and $201 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 Dilbeek or in Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 39% more in Dilbeek, 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 Dilbeek or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,260, than in Dilbeek at $2,102. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dilbeek it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Dilbeek or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,260 versus $2,102 in Dilbeek. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Dilbeek compared to Playa del Carmen?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Dilbeek 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, Dilbeek makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.