😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,260 in Eden NSW versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,252 in Eden NSW versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,244 in Eden NSW versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Eden NSW is roughly 78% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Eden NSW is 68% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Eden NSW
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.52A$23.35
$11.87MX$204
39.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.5A$112
$42.90MX$736
85.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.49A$13.40
$10.65MX$183
-10.89%
Cappuccino
$3.34A$4.72
$3.45MX$59.2
-3.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54A$3.59
$1.50MX$25.81
69.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18A$3.07
$0.95MX$16.28
129.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.35A$8.97
$3.03MX$51.9
109.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.97A$9.85
$4.61MX$79.1
51.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Eden NSW
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.45A$2.05
$1.38MX$23.61
5.07%
White Bread(500g)
$2.44A$3.45
$1.85MX$31.70
31.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.96A$2.77
$1.61MX$27.65
21.74%
Eggs
$4.38A$6.18
$2.59MX$44.51
69.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.58A$12.13
$8.26MX$142
3.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.33A$11.77
$8.37MX$144
-0.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.43A$18.97
$10.66MX$183
25.98%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24A$4.57
$2.63MX$45.12
23.19%
Banana(1kg)
$2.83A$4.00
$1.49MX$25.53
89.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.92A$4.12
$1.92MX$32.94
52.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.20A$5.94
$2.09MX$35.81
100.96%
Potato(1kg)
$2.43A$3.43
$1.86MX$31.88
30.65%
Onion(1kg)
$2.20A$3.11
$2.26MX$38.81
-2.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.15A$3.04
$1.06MX$18.23
102.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58A$2.24
$1.09MX$18.67
44.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$31.27A$44.18
$4.15MX$71.2
653.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.82A$22.35
$10.39MX$178
52.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.67A$6.59
$1.72MX$29.59
171.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.23A$7.39
$2.61MX$44.85
100.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Eden NSW
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.65A$3.74
$0.54MX$9.30
390.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$63.8A$90.1
$26.94MX$462
136.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.65A$5.16
$3.13MX$53.7
16.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.55A$2.18
$2.51MX$43.09
-38.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.47A$47.29
$3.15MX$54.1
962.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13A$1.60
$1.27MX$21.88
-11.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KA$40.0K
$30.4KMX$521.3K
-6.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6KA$32.0K
$23.6KMX$404.5K
-3.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Eden NSW
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$186A$263
$83.0MX$1,425
123.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.59A$38.98
$22.71MX$390
21.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.0A$74.9
$29.46MX$506
79.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Eden NSW
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.26A$68.2
$51.0MX$875
-5.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.74A$22.23
$18.33MX$315
-14.13%
Cinema Ticket
$12.83A$18.13
$4.93MX$84.5
160.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Eden NSW
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,637A$2,313
$197MX$3,386
729.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.1KA$17.1K
$5,280MX$90.6K
129.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Eden NSW
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.5A$95.4
$36.90MX$633
82.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.91A$70.5
$39.89MX$685
25.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.7A$141
$80.0MX$1,373
24.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105A$149
$89.5MX$1,536
17.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Eden NSW
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,268A$1,792
$956MX$16.4K
32.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,059A$1,496
$477MX$8,189
121.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,022A$2,856
$1,646MX$28.3K
22.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,679A$2,372
$1,225MX$21.0K
37.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,970A$9,848
$3,918MX$67.2K
77.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,671A$6,600
$6,459MX$110.9K
-27.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Eden NSW
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$667MX$11.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.34
11.42
-44.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Eden NSW: June 8, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,268 in Eden NSW and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $80.0 in Eden NSW vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $342 vs $250 per month, with Playa del Carmen 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
Eden NSW vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Eden NSW?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 78% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,390 in Eden NSW and $1,906 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.
What is the rent difference between Eden NSW and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,268 in Eden NSW versus $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Eden NSW or Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $80.0 in Eden NSW. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Eden NSW vs Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,260 per month in Eden NSW versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen – a 78% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Eden NSW or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,260 in Eden NSW, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Eden NSW. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Eden NSW or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Eden NSW, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Eden NSW or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Eden NSW 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 78% less than in Eden NSW. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.