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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $762 per month in Dura vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,285 per month in Dura vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,808 per month in Dura vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Dura is about 39% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Dura and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Dura 43% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.87 ₪42.14
$11.99 MX$210
15.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.2 ₪174
$41.78 MX$733
36.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.31 ₪34.34
$10.75 MX$189
5.21%
Cappuccino
$1.94 ₪5.90
$3.50 MX$61.3
-44.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 ₪2.39
$1.45 MX$25.41
-45.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 ₪1.84
$0.88 MX$15.52
-30.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.47 ₪16.61
$2.95 MX$51.7
85.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.52 ₪16.76
$4.51 MX$79.1
22.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.17 ₪6.60
$1.43 MX$25.12
51.75%
White Bread (500g)
$1.11 ₪3.37
$1.84 MX$32.23
-39.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.56 ₪7.78
$1.57 MX$27.51
63.06%
Eggs
$3.98 ₪12.08
$2.51 MX$44.06
58.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.61 ₪23.10
$8.28 MX$145
-8.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.65 ₪26.26
$8.43 MX$148
2.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.04 ₪54.8
$10.68 MX$187
68.91%
Apples (1kg)
$2.57 ₪7.81
$2.61 MX$45.76
-1.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.92 ₪5.83
$1.44 MX$25.22
33.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 ₪6.05
$1.96 MX$34.41
1.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.98 ₪6.02
$2.09 MX$36.74
-5.26%
Potato (1kg)
$1.05 ₪3.20
$1.85 MX$32.47
-43.24%
Onion (1kg)
$1.39 ₪4.24
$2.17 MX$38.02
-35.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 ₪4.21
$1.03 MX$18.09
34.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 ₪2.66
$1.07 MX$18.84
-17.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.34 ₪25.34
$4.10 MX$72.0
103.41%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$10.17 MX$178
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 ₪8.46
$1.68 MX$29.38
66.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 ₪7.70
$2.53 MX$44.31
-
🚌 Getting Around
Dura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.51 MX$8.93
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.04 MX$457
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.79 ₪8.46
$3.23 MX$56.7
-13.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.41 MX$42.19
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.90 ₪42.23
$3.23 MX$56.6
330.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.19 ₪6.66
$1.32 MX$23.17
65.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.2K ₪119.1K
$29.7K MX$520.9K
32.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$47.4K ₪144.0K
$23.7K MX$415.0K
100.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.9 ₪258
$82.0 MX$1,439
3.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.94 ₪57.5
$22.95 MX$403
-17.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.71 ₪139
$30.11 MX$528
51.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$52.0 MX$912
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.53 MX$325
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.42 ₪28.60
$4.98 MX$87.3
89.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$218 ₪661
$197 MX$3,463
10.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,911 ₪11.9K
$5,336 MX$93.6K
-26.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.5 ₪190
$35.60 MX$624
75.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.03 ₪116
$40.33 MX$707
-5.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.5 ₪287
$78.8 MX$1,381
20.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.5 ₪217
$88.9 MX$1,560
-19.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$947 MX$16.6K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$474 MX$8,314
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,644 MX$28.8K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,211 MX$21.2K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,056 MX$71.1K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,470 MX$113.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dura
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$654 MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.62
11.42
-50.79%

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

Last update for Dura: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $57.0 in Dura versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $262 vs $249 – 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
Dura vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Dura and in Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $762 in Dura, $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 65% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Dura compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,142 per month in Dura and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city is more expensive overall: Dura or Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $762 in Dura and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Dura and Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $218 per month in Dura and $197 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Dura, where all-in costs run around $762, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Dura it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Dura and Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $762 in Dura to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Dura and Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Dura. 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.

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