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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $755 in Duitama versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,127 in Duitama versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,500 in Duitama versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Duitama costs roughly 41% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Duitama 44% lower, Playa del Carmen 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.18 COP 11.5K

$11.94 MX$209

-73.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.73 COP 71.2K

$42.75 MX$748

-53.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.59 COP 23.8K

$10.59 MX$185

-37.77%

Cappuccino

$1.29 COP 4,665

$3.62 MX$63.4

-64.36%

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

$0.70 COP 2,541

$1.47 MX$25.69

-52.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 COP 2,004

$0.94 MX$16.51

-40.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.42 COP 5,112

$3.09 MX$54.1

-54.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 COP 7,383

$4.46 MX$78.0

-54.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 COP 4,239

$1.43 MX$24.94

-18.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 COP 3,994

$1.88 MX$32.97

-40.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 COP 4,323

$1.63 MX$28.50

-26.38%

Eggs

$2.22 COP 7,998

$2.64 MX$46.26

-15.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.09 COP 14.8K

$8.21 MX$144

-50.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.87 COP 21.2K

$8.29 MX$145

-29.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.47 COP 27.0K

$11.10 MX$194

-32.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.50 COP 9,009

$2.65 MX$46.40

-5.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 COP 4,417

$1.50 MX$26.26

-18.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.84 COP 3,041

$1.99 MX$34.79

-57.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.86 COP 3,113

$2.08 MX$36.33

-58.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 COP 4,361

$1.79 MX$31.29

-32.40%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 COP 3,690

$2.18 MX$38.09

-53.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 COP 3,308

$1.08 MX$18.84

-14.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,653

$1.04 MX$18.15

-29.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.67 COP 6,030

$3.97 MX$69.5

-57.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.22 COP 29.7K

$10.20 MX$179

-19.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 3,022

$1.73 MX$30.22

-51.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 5,439

$2.50 MX$43.71

-39.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.67 COP 2,419

$0.52 MX$9.07

28.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.20 COP 109.0K

$26.97 MX$472

11.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 COP 6,257

$3.14 MX$55.0

-44.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 COP 5,568

$2.40 MX$42.04

-35.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 COP 21.6K

$3.09 MX$54.0

93.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,387

$1.27 MX$22.28

-25.98%

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

$19.4K COP 70.0M

$30.9K MX$540.4K

-37.25%

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

$27.5K COP 99.2M

$23.3K MX$408.0K

17.90%

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

$72.2 COP 260.5K

$82.0 MX$1,435

-12.02%

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

$8.90 COP 32.1K

$22.45 MX$393

-60.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.99 COP 43.3K

$29.66 MX$519

-59.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.68 COP 85.5K

$51.9 MX$908

-54.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$327

Cinema Ticket

$2.40 COP 8,664

$4.97 MX$87.0

-51.71%

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

$240 COP 867.3K

$198 MX$3,462

21.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,469 COP 8.9M

$5,273 MX$92.3K

-53.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.0 COP 238.1K

$36.34 MX$636

81.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.22 COP 116.3K

$40.05 MX$701

-19.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.2 COP 304.1K

$79.9 MX$1,398

5.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.15 COP 137.7K

$88.9 MX$1,555

-57.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 COP 999.8K

$963 MX$16.9K

-71.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$241 COP 870.9K

$465 MX$8,133

-48.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$711 COP 2.6M

$1,596 MX$27.9K

-55.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$388 COP 1.4M

$1,209 MX$21.2K

-67.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,858 COP 6.7M

$3,942 MX$69.0K

-52.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,296 COP 4.7M

$6,448 MX$112.8K

-79.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$720 MX$12.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

15.25

11.42

33.54%

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

Last update for Duitama: April 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $277 in Duitama and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $20.00 in Duitama vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $170 vs $251 per month, with Duitama 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

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

Duitama wins on cost – living expenses run 70% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Duitama the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,132 in Duitama and $1,930 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $277 in Duitama versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $755 per month in Duitama versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – a 70% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Duitama runs roughly 12% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $755 in Duitama versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Duitama but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Duitama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Duitama delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $755 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Duitama hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Duitama 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.

Expats usually find Duitama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 70% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.