Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Edmundston and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,150 in Edmundston, rent and utilities included – about $11,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Edmundston, Canada
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Edmundston
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,150
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Edmundston and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Edmundston and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,150 in Edmundston versus $1,204 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Edmundston $2,150
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,181 in Edmundston versus $2,082 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Edmundston $3,181
  • Playa del Carmen $2,082

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,213 in Edmundston versus $2,959 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Edmundston $4,213
  • Playa del Carmen $2,959

Living in Edmundston is roughly 79% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Edmundston is 58% above, Playa del Carmen is 12% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Edmundston
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.79 CA$27.65
$10.92 MX$205
81.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.1 CA$90.9
$43.37 MX$814
49.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.61 CA$9.23
$11.78 MX$221
-43.89%
Cappuccino
$3.74 CA$5.23
$3.81 MX$71.5
-1.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 CA$2.44
$1.28 MX$24.07
36.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 CA$2.40
$0.78 MX$14.70
120.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.55 CA$7.76
$3.17 MX$59.5
75.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.12 CA$7.16
$4.93 MX$92.7
3.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Edmundston
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 CA$2.82
$1.41 MX$26.40
43.26%
White Bread (500g)
$2.53 CA$3.53
$2.22 MX$41.62
13.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.36 CA$4.70
$1.42 MX$26.61
136.62%
Eggs
$4.50 CA$6.29
$2.52 MX$47.36
78.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.26 CA$14.33
$7.26 MX$136
41.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.70 CA$16.35
$7.70 MX$144
51.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.96 CA$20.90
$12.69 MX$238
17.89%
Apples (1kg)
$3.37 CA$4.71
$2.78 MX$52.3
21.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.30 CA$1.82
$1.37 MX$25.68
-5.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.59 CA$5.02
$2.55 MX$47.89
40.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.86 CA$5.39
$2.12 MX$39.86
82.08%
Potato (1kg)
$2.50 CA$3.49
$1.94 MX$36.39
28.87%
Onion (1kg)
$2.24 CA$3.13
$1.89 MX$35.41
18.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.75 CA$3.85
$1.15 MX$21.53
139.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 CA$1.77
$1.18 MX$22.13
7.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.17 CA$19.80
$4.30 MX$80.6
229.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.97 CA$18.13
$9.95 MX$187
30.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.80 CA$3.91
$1.58 MX$29.73
77.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09 CA$4.32
$2.67 MX$50.1
15.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Edmundston
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.21 CA$3.09
$0.55 MX$10.39
301.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.6 CA$88.8
$26.62 MX$500
138.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.28 CA$4.58
$4.97 MX$93.3
-34.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 CA$1.98
$3.33 MX$62.5
-57.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.55 CA$32.91
$5.36 MX$101
339.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 CA$1.68
$1.44 MX$27.11
-15.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.0K CA$43.3K
$20.7K MX$388.0K
49.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1K CA$33.6K
$23.5K MX$440.5K
2.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Edmundston
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$118 CA$164
$84.8 MX$1,592
38.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.67 CA$47.04
$23.41 MX$439
43.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.8 CA$75.2
$28.66 MX$538
87.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Edmundston
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.68 CA$52.6
$57.1 MX$1,071
-33.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.62 CA$28.81
$28.91 MX$543
-28.68%
Cinema Ticket
$11.25 CA$15.73
$5.14 MX$96.5
118.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Edmundston
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$676 CA$945
$207 MX$3,878
227.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.9K CA$19.4K
$3,927 MX$73.7K
253.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Edmundston
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.71 CA$69.5
$43.35 MX$814
14.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.42 CA$62.1
$41.44 MX$778
7.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.0 CA$127
$74.2 MX$1,393
22.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 CA$155
$89.3 MX$1,676
24.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Edmundston
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,275 CA$1,782
$980 MX$18.4K
30.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,040 CA$1,453
$381 MX$7,150
173.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,018 CA$1,423
$1,708 MX$32.1K
-40.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,666 CA$2,328
$1,075 MX$20.2K
54.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,464 CA$6,238
$3,943 MX$74.0K
13.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,148 CA$4,398
$6,158 MX$115.6K
-48.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Edmundston
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,514 CA$3,513
$735 MX$13.8K
242.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.68
11.45
-59.13%

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

Last update for Edmundston: October 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Edmundston
$1K
Playa del Carmen
$381 63.4% $659
Groceries & Markets
Edmundston
$354
Playa del Carmen
$255 28% $99
Eating Out
Edmundston
$275
Playa del Carmen
$202 26.4% $73
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Edmundston
$205
Playa del Carmen
$137 33.3% $68
Clothing & Footwear
Edmundston
$133
Playa del Carmen
$112 16.1% $21
Getting Around
Edmundston
$83
Playa del Carmen
$50 39% $32
Sport & Entertainment
Edmundston
$60
Playa del Carmen
$67 11.9% $7.1

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,275 in Edmundston and $980 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Edmundston pays about 3.4 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $65 in Edmundston vs $43 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $354 vs $255 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Edmundston
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
22:50 10:50 PM
21:50 9:50 PM
1 h behind Edmundston
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
16,437
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.716 USD). 1 EUR = 1.56 CAD (1 CAD = 0.641 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18.77 MXN (100 MXN = 5.33 USD). 1 EUR = 20.96 MXN (100 MXN = 4.77 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Edmundston Playa del Carmen 3,420 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Edmundston
  • Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Edmundston vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Edmundston?
Playa del Carmen is about 44% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and utilities. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Edmundston or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay in Edmundston is about 3.4 times higher, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Edmundston and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,275 in Edmundston versus $980 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 58% less than in Edmundston. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $676 in Edmundston versus $207 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Edmundston or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,150 in Edmundston, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Edmundston. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Edmundston or in 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Edmundston. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Edmundston vs other spots: cost of living compared

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