🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $818 in Duzce versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,323 in Duzce versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,827 in Duzce versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Duzce costs roughly 35% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Duzce40% lower, Playa del Carmen7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Duzce
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.17₺203
$11.60MX$200
-64.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.35₺1,480
$47.11MX$811
-35.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.07₺345
$11.88MX$205
-40.49%
Cappuccino
$3.25₺158
$3.98MX$68.5
-18.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00₺48.88
$1.43MX$24.57
-30.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20₺9.73
$0.82MX$14.20
-75.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72₺83.7
$3.19MX$54.9
-46.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14₺153
$6.79MX$117
-53.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Duzce
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.92₺44.86
$1.68MX$28.85
-45.24%
White Bread(500g)
$0.82₺39.74
$2.20MX$37.83
-62.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.19₺107
$1.71MX$29.41
28.07%
Eggs
$2.28₺111
$2.74MX$47.20
-16.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.29₺502
$9.58MX$165
7.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.06₺247
$9.01MX$155
-43.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.10₺931
$12.81MX$221
49.10%
Apples(1kg)
$1.74₺85.0
$2.89MX$49.74
-39.79%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01₺97.9
$1.50MX$25.78
34.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.03₺50.2
$2.15MX$36.98
-52.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.30₺63.3
$2.26MX$38.91
-42.48%
Potato(1kg)
$0.61₺29.79
$1.98MX$34.10
-69.19%
Onion(1kg)
$0.37₺18.17
$1.99MX$34.26
-81.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.81₺39.60
$1.23MX$21.25
-34.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₺34.53
$1.20MX$20.60
-40.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.07₺101
$4.55MX$78.3
-54.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.25₺597
$10.37MX$179
18.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02₺98.7
$1.62MX$27.88
24.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05₺99.8
$2.88MX$49.60
-28.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Duzce
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.72₺35.02
$0.60MX$10.34
20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$28.80MX$496
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.09₺53.3
$5.39MX$92.8
-79.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.86₺41.92
$3.73MX$64.2
-76.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.03₺343
$5.77MX$99.3
21.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24₺60.5
$1.54MX$26.45
-19.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.9K₺2.1M
$22.5KMX$388.3K
94.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.9K₺2.0M
$26.1KMX$448.7K
57.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Duzce
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.9₺3,897
$91.4MX$1,573
-12.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.98₺535
$25.20MX$434
-56.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.37₺652
$31.24MX$538
-57.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Duzce
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.19₺984
$67.2MX$1,157
-69.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$31.30₺1,526
$29.11MX$501
7.52%
Cinema Ticket
$4.05₺197
$4.86MX$83.7
-16.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Duzce
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$559₺27.2K
$224MX$3,851
149.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6K₺566.5K
$4,229MX$72.8K
174.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Duzce
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.35₺2,162
$47.10MX$811
-5.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.34₺1,723
$44.29MX$763
-20.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.7₺4,080
$80.1MX$1,379
4.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101₺4,938
$92.7MX$1,596
9.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Duzce
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$305₺14.9K
$1,063MX$18.3K
-71.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$209₺10.2K
$390MX$6,719
-46.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$629₺30.7K
$2,149MX$37.0K
-70.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$412₺20.1K
$1,272MX$21.9K
-67.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,001MX$68.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,502MX$112.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Duzce
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,251₺61.0K
$758MX$13.1K
65.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
42.67
11.45
272.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Duzce: September 12, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $305 in Duzce and $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Duzce pays 65% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $30.00 in Duzce vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $233 vs $276 per month, with Duzce 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
Duzce vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Duzce and in Playa del Carmen?
Duzce and Playa del Carmen differ by about 55% in total monthly costs ($818 vs $1,266 including rent). Duzce is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Duzce or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 65% higher in Duzce, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Duzce and in Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $305 in Duzce versus $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Duzce and Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $559 in Duzce versus $224 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Duzce – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $818 in Duzce versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Duzce but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Duzce the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Duzce and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Duzce or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Duzce 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.
Where should expats move: Duzce or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Duzce gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.