Cost of Living Comparison Between El Progreso and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between El Progreso and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $144 in El Progreso versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $289 in El Progreso versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $434 in El Progreso versus $3,362 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in El Progreso costs roughly 89% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: El Progreso 90% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.85 HNL 130

$11.96 MX$203

-59.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.23 HNL 678

$47.38 MX$804

-46.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.15 HNL 219

$11.75 MX$199

-30.64%

Cappuccino

$1.47 HNL 39.42

$4.12 MX$70.0

-64.32%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 HNL 21.75

$1.40 MX$23.74

-42.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 HNL 26.13

$0.91 MX$15.48

6.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 HNL 40.85

$3.21 MX$54.4

-52.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 HNL 52.6

$7.07 MX$120

-72.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 HNL 35.88

$1.68 MX$28.44

-20.24%

White Bread (500g)

$2.15 MX$36.48

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 HNL 30.67

$1.77 MX$30.10

-35.59%

Eggs

$1.62 HNL 43.40

$2.82 MX$47.76

-42.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.20 MX$156

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.23 MX$157

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.64 MX$214

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MX$50.1

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 HNL 38.64

$1.58 MX$26.79

-8.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 MX$37.70

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.09

Potato (1kg)

$1.99 MX$33.81

Onion (1kg)

$1.65 HNL 44.20

$1.98 MX$33.58

-16.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 MX$21.04

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 MX$20.55

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.67 HNL 71.6

$4.60 MX$78.1

-41.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.52 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 HNL 34.78

$1.69 MX$28.70

-23.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.41 HNL 37.79

$2.77 MX$47.06

-49.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.22

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.24 MX$88.8

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.65 MX$61.9

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 MX$98.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.09

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.8K MX$386.8K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.8K MX$437.9K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$90.7 MX$1,538

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.19 MX$427

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.75 MX$539

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 MX$1,167

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$498

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$82.5

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$226 MX$3,828

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,194 MX$71.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.38 MX$804

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.45 MX$737

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.2 MX$1,361

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.4 MX$1,550

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,086 MX$18.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$409 MX$6,933

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,972 MX$33.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,281 MX$21.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,046 MX$68.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,704 MX$113.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$773 MX$13.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

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

Last update for El Progreso: September 5, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in El Progreso vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $46.00 vs $278 per month, with El Progreso 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

El Progreso vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

El Progreso is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear. The 808% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $216 in El Progreso and $1,958 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 509% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in El Progreso – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $144 in El Progreso versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in El Progreso but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes El Progreso the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, El Progreso is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find El Progreso gentler on the wallet – expenses run 808% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.