😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,331 in Edmundston versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,367 in Edmundston versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,403 in Edmundston versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Edmundston is roughly 80% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Edmundston is 74% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Edmundston
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.04CA$23.69
$11.73MX$203
45.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.3CA$97.8
$41.62MX$719
69.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.11CA$15.45
$10.64MX$184
4.42%
Cappuccino
$3.89CA$5.41
$3.52MX$60.8
10.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03CA$2.83
$1.51MX$26.09
34.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70CA$2.37
$0.97MX$16.82
75.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.54CA$7.71
$2.95MX$51.0
87.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.83CA$8.11
$4.45MX$77.0
31.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Edmundston
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18CA$3.03
$1.38MX$23.90
57.97%
White Bread(500g)
$2.70CA$3.75
$1.89MX$32.69
42.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.55CA$4.94
$1.64MX$28.29
116.46%
Eggs
$4.80CA$6.68
$2.51MX$43.30
91.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.26CA$15.66
$8.34MX$144
35.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.56CA$16.08
$8.34MX$144
38.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.63CA$20.35
$10.73MX$185
36.35%
Apples(1kg)
$4.09CA$5.69
$2.60MX$45.00
57.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.37CA$1.90
$1.46MX$25.18
-6.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.70CA$5.15
$1.90MX$32.84
94.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.67CA$5.11
$2.08MX$35.88
76.44%
Potato(1kg)
$2.46CA$3.43
$1.78MX$30.68
38.20%
Onion(1kg)
$2.49CA$3.46
$2.19MX$37.76
13.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.63CA$3.65
$1.04MX$17.97
152.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26CA$1.76
$1.08MX$18.60
16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.77CA$19.15
$4.08MX$70.5
237.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.46CA$17.33
$10.32MX$178
20.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.82CA$3.92
$1.71MX$29.59
64.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15CA$4.38
$2.58MX$44.50
22.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Edmundston
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.32CA$3.22
$0.51MX$8.81
354.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$61.8CA$85.9
$26.46MX$457
133.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23CA$4.50
$3.26MX$56.4
-0.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.49CA$2.07
$2.49MX$43.05
-40.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.58CA$35.58
$3.25MX$56.1
687.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15CA$1.61
$1.31MX$22.59
-12.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6KCA$34.1K
$30.3KMX$523.2K
-18.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.0KCA$29.2K
$23.4KMX$404.9K
-10.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Edmundston
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$142CA$198
$82.9MX$1,432
71.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.85CA$61.0
$22.22MX$384
97.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.3CA$85.3
$29.34MX$507
109.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Edmundston
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.40CA$59.0
$51.6MX$892
-17.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.32MX$317
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.60CA$16.13
$5.07MX$87.5
128.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Edmundston
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$738CA$1,026
$201MX$3,470
267.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.8KCA$16.4K
$5,212MX$90.1K
126.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Edmundston
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.3CA$75.6
$36.92MX$638
47.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.30CA$56.0
$39.79MX$688
1.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.0CA$120
$78.5MX$1,356
9.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107CA$149
$87.1MX$1,505
22.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Edmundston
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,295CA$1,801
$973MX$16.8K
33.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,161CA$1,615
$468MX$8,082
148.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$918CA$1,276
$1,641MX$28.4K
-44.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,815CA$2,524
$1,221MX$21.1K
48.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,481CA$6,232
$3,946MX$68.2K
13.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,452CA$4,800
$6,498MX$112.3K
-46.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Edmundston
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,490CA$3,463
$664MX$11.5K
275.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.46
11.42
-43.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Edmundston: June 2, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,295 in Edmundston and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Edmundston pays 275% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Edmundston vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $363 vs $249 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
Edmundston vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Edmundston?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 80% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Edmundston or Playa del Carmen?
Edmundston pays 275% more on average, 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: $1,295 in Edmundston versus $973 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 133% less than in Edmundston. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $738 in Edmundston versus $201 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 Edmundston or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,331 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 Edmundston or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Edmundston, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 80% 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