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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $706 in Dubasari versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,089 in Dubasari versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,472 in Dubasari versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Dubasari costs roughly 46% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dubasari 47% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dubasari
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.03 MDL 155
$11.73 MX$203
-23.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.34 MDL 625
$41.62 MX$720
-12.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.40 MDL 127
$10.64 MX$184
-30.45%
Cappuccino
$1.89 MDL 32.52
$3.52 MX$60.9
-46.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 MDL 16.13
$1.51 MX$26.12
-37.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 MDL 11.27
$0.97 MX$16.84
-31.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 MDL 29.51
$2.95 MX$51.0
-41.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 MDL 41.19
$4.45 MX$77.0
-46.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dubasari
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 MDL 22.05
$1.38 MX$23.93
-7.25%
White Bread (500g)
$0.53 MDL 9.03
$1.89 MX$32.72
-71.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 MDL 26.02
$1.64 MX$28.32
-7.93%
Eggs
$2.58 MDL 44.34
$2.51 MX$43.34
2.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.36 MDL 178
$8.34 MX$144
24.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.52 MDL 94.9
$8.34 MX$144
-33.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.89 MDL 153
$10.73 MX$186
-17.15%
Apples (1kg)
$0.85 MDL 14.63
$2.60 MX$45.04
-67.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 MDL 30.50
$1.46 MX$25.20
21.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 MDL 30.73
$1.90 MX$32.87
-5.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MDL 35.99
$2.08 MX$35.91
0.48%
Potato (1kg)
$0.81 MDL 13.99
$1.78 MX$30.71
-54.49%
Onion (1kg)
$0.58 MDL 10.00
$2.19 MX$37.80
-73.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.30 MDL 22.33
$1.04 MX$17.99
25.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89 MDL 15.38
$1.08 MX$18.62
-17.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.16 MDL 54.3
$4.08 MX$70.6
-22.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.54 MDL 78.1
$10.32 MX$178
-56.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 MDL 21.84
$1.71 MX$29.61
-25.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 MDL 33.28
$2.58 MX$44.54
-24.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Dubasari
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.51 MX$8.81
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.46 MX$458
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.00 MDL 34.34
$3.26 MX$56.4
-38.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.27 MDL 4.69
$2.49 MX$43.09
-89.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.31 MDL 91.2
$3.25 MX$56.2
63.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 MDL 24.71
$1.31 MX$22.61
9.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0K MDL 550.4K
$30.3K MX$523.7K
5.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.7K MDL 526.9K
$23.4K MX$405.3K
30.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dubasari
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 MDL 2,915
$82.9 MX$1,433
104.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.47 MDL 128
$22.22 MX$384
-66.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.81 MDL 186
$29.34 MX$507
-63.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dubasari
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$51.6 MX$893
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.32 MX$317
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.45 MDL 128
$5.07 MX$87.6
46.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dubasari
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$387 MDL 6,650
$201 MX$3,473
92.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,611 MDL 130.8K
$5,212 MX$90.1K
46.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dubasari
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.8 MDL 1,147
$36.92 MX$639
80.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.9 MDL 909
$39.79 MX$688
32.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 MDL 1,932
$78.5 MX$1,357
43.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 MDL 2,131
$87.1 MX$1,506
42.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dubasari
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$973 MX$16.8K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$468 MX$8,090
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,641 MX$28.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,221 MX$21.1K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,946 MX$68.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,498 MX$112.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dubasari
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$664 MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.24
11.42
-19.09%

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

Last update for Dubasari: May 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $36.00 in Dubasari vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $191 vs $249 per month, with Dubasari cheaper across the board.

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
Dubasari vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Dubasari?
Dubasari is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 84% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,059 in Dubasari and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do food prices compare in Dubasari and Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 30% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Dubasari vs Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $706 per month in Dubasari versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – a 84% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Dubasari or Playa del Carmen?
At $706 in Dubasari versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Dubasari but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Dubasari the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Dubasari or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Dubasari is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Dubasari or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Dubasari and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Dubasari gentler on the wallet – expenses run 84% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Dubasari vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities