😐A single person spends $2,301 per month in Eastleigh vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,388 per month in Eastleigh vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,475 per month in Eastleigh vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Eastleigh costs about 79% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Eastleigh sits 72% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Eastleigh
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.22£14.96
$11.94MX$208
69.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.9£59.2
$42.75MX$744
86.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.04£7.43
$10.59MX$184
-5.19%
Cappuccino
$4.77£3.53
$3.62MX$63.0
31.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30£1.70
$1.47MX$25.54
56.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61£1.19
$0.94MX$16.41
71.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.33£4.68
$3.09MX$53.8
104.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.26£4.64
$4.46MX$77.6
40.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Eastleigh
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.63£1.20
$1.43MX$24.80
13.99%
White Bread(500g)
$1.58£1.17
$1.88MX$32.79
-15.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.21£1.64
$1.63MX$28.34
35.58%
Eggs
$3.87£2.87
$2.64MX$45.99
46.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07£7.45
$8.21MX$143
22.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.64£6.39
$8.29MX$144
4.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.96£10.33
$11.10MX$193
25.77%
Apples(1kg)
$3.15£2.33
$2.65MX$46.14
18.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58£1.17
$1.50MX$26.11
5.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.77£2.05
$1.99MX$34.59
39.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.61£2.67
$2.08MX$36.13
73.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.71£1.26
$1.79MX$31.11
-4.47%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48£1.09
$2.18MX$37.87
-32.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06£0.78
$1.08MX$18.73
-1.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46£1.08
$1.04MX$18.04
40.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.92£14.00
$3.97MX$69.1
376.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.02£7.42
$10.20MX$178
-1.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.67£1.98
$1.73MX$30.04
54.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15£2.33
$2.50MX$43.46
26.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Eastleigh
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.28£2.43
$0.52MX$9.02
530.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$88.6£65.5
$26.97MX$469
228.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.38£3.98
$3.14MX$54.7
71.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60£1.19
$2.40MX$41.80
-33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.23£17.19
$3.09MX$53.7
651.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.88£1.39
$1.27MX$22.16
48.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.1K£28.2K
$30.9KMX$537.3K
23.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.9K£31.0K
$23.3KMX$405.7K
79.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Eastleigh
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$297£220
$82.0MX$1,427
261.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.21£12.73
$22.45MX$391
-23.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.09£31.88
$29.66MX$516
45.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Eastleigh
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.43£34.36
$51.9MX$903
-10.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.00£8.88
$18.67MX$325
-35.73%
Cinema Ticket
$13.65£10.10
$4.97MX$86.5
174.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Eastleigh
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,595£1,180
$198MX$3,442
706.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.3K£13.6K
$5,273MX$91.7K
247.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Eastleigh
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.3£62.4
$36.34MX$632
131.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.15£32.67
$40.05MX$697
10.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0£69.5
$79.9MX$1,390
17.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.2£73.4
$88.9MX$1,547
11.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Eastleigh
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,209£895
$963MX$16.8K
25.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,001£740
$465MX$8,086
115.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,042£1,511
$1,596MX$27.8K
27.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,708£1,264
$1,209MX$21.0K
41.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,942MX$68.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,448MX$112.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Eastleigh
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$720MX$12.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.63
11.42
-50.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Eastleigh: April 25, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,209 in Eastleigh versus $963 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Eastleigh versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $296 vs $251 – 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
Eastleigh vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Eastleigh or Playa del Carmen?
Eastleigh costs about 79% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Eastleigh vs Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,452 per month in Eastleigh and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Eastleigh or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Eastleigh vs Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Eastleigh and $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Eastleigh compared to Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,301 in Eastleigh and $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Eastleigh or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,287, than in Eastleigh at $2,301. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Eastleigh it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Eastleigh or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,287 versus $2,301 in Eastleigh. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Eastleigh compared to 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 – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Eastleigh or Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Eastleigh makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.