Cost of Living Comparison Between Dong Xoai and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Dong Xoai and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $712 per month in Dong Xoai vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,106 per month in Dong Xoai vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,499 per month in Dong Xoai vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Dong Xoai is about 45% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Dong Xoai and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Dong Xoai 47% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ₫50.9K

$11.73 MX$203

-83.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.44 ₫563.4K

$41.62 MX$720

-48.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.43 ₫116.3K

$10.64 MX$184

-58.36%

Cappuccino

$1.56 ₫41.0K

$3.52 MX$60.9

-55.68%

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

$0.51 ₫13.3K

$1.51 MX$26.12

-66.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ₫7,975

$0.97 MX$16.84

-69.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.92 ₫24.2K

$2.95 MX$51.0

-68.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 ₫40.9K

$4.45 MX$77.0

-64.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 ₫37.5K

$1.38 MX$23.93

3.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.91 ₫23.8K

$1.89 MX$32.72

-51.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 ₫24.3K

$1.64 MX$28.32

-43.90%

Eggs

$1.47 ₫38.5K

$2.51 MX$43.34

-41.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.91 ₫312.9K

$8.34 MX$144

42.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.76 ₫98.8K

$8.34 MX$144

-54.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ₫259.3K

$10.73 MX$186

-8.01%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ₫69.6K

$2.60 MX$45.04

1.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 ₫27.7K

$1.46 MX$25.20

-28.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.31 ₫34.4K

$1.90 MX$32.87

-31.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 ₫28.5K

$2.08 MX$35.91

-48.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 ₫28.1K

$1.78 MX$30.71

-39.89%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 ₫26.8K

$2.19 MX$37.80

-53.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 ₫15.2K

$1.04 MX$17.99

-44.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₫13.5K

$1.08 MX$18.62

-52.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.37 ₫36.0K

$4.08 MX$70.6

-66.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.63 ₫226.9K

$10.32 MX$178

-16.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 ₫19.9K

$1.71 MX$29.61

-55.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 ₫41.6K

$2.58 MX$44.54

-38.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 ₫8,246

$0.51 MX$8.81

-39.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.58 ₫172.8K

$26.46 MX$458

-75.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 ₫19.5K

$3.26 MX$56.4

-77.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ₫16.5K

$2.49 MX$43.09

-74.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.82 ₫74.0K

$3.25 MX$56.2

-13.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 ₫22.0K

$1.31 MX$22.61

-35.88%

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

$34.7K ₫912.0M

$30.3K MX$523.7K

14.63%

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

$31.8K ₫835.6M

$23.4K MX$405.3K

35.73%

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

$74.7 ₫2.0M

$82.9 MX$1,433

-9.81%

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

$5.95 ₫156.4K

$22.22 MX$384

-73.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.93 ₫234.7K

$29.34 MX$507

-69.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.19 ₫556.6K

$51.6 MX$893

-58.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.86 ₫206.6K

$18.32 MX$317

-57.10%

Cinema Ticket

$3.11 ₫81.6K

$5.07 MX$87.6

-38.66%

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

$269 ₫7.1M

$201 MX$3,473

33.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K ₫300.5M

$5,212 MX$90.1K

119.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.50 ₫1.1M

$36.92 MX$639

9.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.13 ₫607.8K

$39.79 MX$688

-41.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.8 ₫2.3M

$78.5 MX$1,357

11.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.5 ₫1.9M

$87.1 MX$1,506

-15.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$364 ₫9.6M

$973 MX$16.8K

-62.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$243 ₫6.4M

$468 MX$8,090

-47.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$683 ₫17.9M

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-58.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$458 ₫12.0M

$1,221 MX$21.1K

-62.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,371 ₫114.8M

$3,946 MX$68.3K

10.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,426 ₫37.5M

$6,498 MX$112.4K

-78.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.1

11.42

-20.32%

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

Last update for Dong Xoai: June 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $364 in Dong Xoai 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Dong Xoai versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $185 vs $249 – making Dong Xoai 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $712 in Dong Xoai, $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 82% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,068 per month in Dong Xoai and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dong Xoai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $712 in Dong Xoai and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 302% less in Dong Xoai. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Dong Xoai, where all-in costs run around $712, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Dong Xoai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $712 in Dong Xoai to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Dong Xoai. 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.