๐A single person spends $1,186 per month in Dunafรถldvรกr vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $1,832 per month in Dunafรถldvรกr vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $2,478 per month in Dunafรถldvรกr vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐Dunafรถldvรกr is about 7% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
๐Both Dunafรถldvรกr and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median โ Dunafรถldvรกr12% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Dunafรถldvรกr
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.47Ftย 3,470
$11.87MX$204
-3.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.20Ftย 14.6K
$42.90MX$736
12.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.83Ftย 2,370
$10.65MX$183
-26.48%
Cappuccino
$2.49Ftย 753
$3.45MX$59.2
-27.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43Ftย 432
$1.50MX$25.81
-4.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93Ftย 280
$0.95MX$16.28
-2.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.60Ftย 787
$3.03MX$51.9
-14.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64Ftย 799
$4.61MX$79.1
-42.73%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Dunafรถldvรกr
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12Ftย 338
$1.38MX$23.61
-18.84%
White Bread(500g)
$1.48Ftย 447
$1.85MX$31.70
-20.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.80Ftย 543
$1.61MX$27.65
11.80%
Eggs
$2.95Ftย 893
$2.59MX$44.51
13.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.43Ftย 2,853
$8.26MX$142
14.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.89Ftย 1,781
$8.37MX$144
-29.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.97Ftย 3,319
$10.66MX$183
2.91%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24Ftย 677
$2.63MX$45.12
-14.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.96Ftย 593
$1.49MX$25.53
31.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02Ftย 611
$1.92MX$32.94
5.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.19Ftย 1,268
$2.09MX$35.81
100.48%
Potato(1kg)
$1.40Ftย 424
$1.86MX$31.88
-24.73%
Onion(1kg)
$1.27Ftย 386
$2.26MX$38.81
-43.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49Ftย 451
$1.06MX$18.23
40.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49Ftย 148
$1.09MX$18.67
-55.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.51Ftย 2,273
$4.15MX$71.2
80.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.45Ftย 1,951
$10.39MX$178
-37.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10Ftย 332
$1.72MX$29.59
-36.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18Ftย 358
$2.61MX$44.85
-54.79%
๐ Getting Around
Dunafรถldvรกr
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.12Ftย 340
$0.54MX$9.30
107.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.21Ftย 7,628
$26.94MX$462
-6.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.95Ftย 894
$3.13MX$53.7
-5.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.15Ftย 347
$2.51MX$43.09
-54.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.10Ftย 5,173
$3.15MX$54.1
442.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.77Ftย 535
$1.27MX$21.88
39.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.1KFtย 9.4M
$30.4KMX$521.3K
2.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.6KFtย 11.1M
$23.6KMX$404.5K
55.28%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dunafรถldvรกr
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146Ftย 44.1K
$83.0MX$1,425
75.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.24Ftย 9,148
$22.71MX$390
33.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.98Ftย 7,556
$29.46MX$506
-15.21%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Dunafรถldvรกr
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.36Ftย 14.0K
$51.0MX$875
-9.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.62Ftย 5,027
$18.33MX$315
-9.33%
Cinema Ticket
$8.12Ftย 2,458
$4.93MX$84.5
64.71%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Dunafรถldvรกr
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$468Ftย 141.6K
$197MX$3,386
137.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,638Ftย 2.0M
$5,280MX$90.6K
25.73%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Dunafรถldvรกr
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.6Ftย 27.4K
$36.90MX$633
145.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.12Ftย 7,903
$39.89MX$685
-34.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.9Ftย 28.4K
$80.0MX$1,373
17.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105Ftย 31.6K
$89.5MX$1,536
16.89%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Dunafรถldvรกr
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$451Ftย 136.4K
$956MX$16.4K
-52.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$340Ftย 103.0K
$477MX$8,189
-28.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$623Ftย 188.4K
$1,646MX$28.3K
-62.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$529Ftย 160.2K
$1,225MX$21.0K
-56.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,238Ftย 979.5K
$3,918MX$67.2K
-17.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,438Ftย 737.7K
$6,459MX$110.9K
-62.25%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Dunafรถldvรกr
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$667MX$11.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8
11.42
-29.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dunafรถldvรกr: June 9, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $451 in Dunafรถldvรกr versus $956 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.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Dunafรถldvรกr versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story โ $227 in Dunafรถldvรกr vs $250 in Playa del Carmen โ so Dunafรถldvรกr wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Dunafรถldvรกr vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Dunafรถldvรกr?
Yes โ Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 7%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,779 per month in Dunafรถldvรกr and $1,906 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Dunafรถldvรกr, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Dunafรถldvรกr or Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Dunafรถldvรกr and $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafรฉ pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Dunafรถldvรกr vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,186 in Dunafรถldvรกr and $1,271 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category โ it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Dunafรถldvรกr or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Dunafรถldvรกr, where all-in costs run around $1,186, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Dunafรถldvรกr it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Dunafรถldvรกr or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Dunafรถldvรกr โ lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Dunafรถldvรกr or 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 โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Dunafรถldvรกr. 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.
Dunafรถldvรกr vs other spots: cost of living compared