Cost of Living Comparison Between Ellerton and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Ellerton and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $761 in Ellerton versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,127 in Ellerton versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,493 in Ellerton versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Ellerton costs roughly 41% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ellerton 43% lower, Playa del Carmen 4% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ellerton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.43 BBD 14.87
$11.94 MX$208
-37.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$42.75 MX$744
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.03 BBD 10.06
$10.59 MX$184
-52.50%
Cappuccino
$1.02 BBD 2.04
$3.62 MX$63.0
-71.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 BBD 3.42
$1.47 MX$25.54
16.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 BBD 2.54
$0.94 MX$16.41
35.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 BBD 3.45
$3.09 MX$53.8
-44.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 BBD 4.58
$4.46 MX$77.6
-48.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ellerton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 BBD 3.90
$1.43 MX$24.80
36.36%
White Bread (500g)
$1.87 BBD 3.73
$1.88 MX$32.79
-0.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$1.63 MX$28.34
-
Eggs
-
$2.64 MX$45.99
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$8.21 MX$143
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$8.29 MX$144
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$11.10 MX$193
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$2.65 MX$46.14
-
Banana (1kg)
-
$1.50 MX$26.11
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$1.99 MX$34.59
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$2.08 MX$36.13
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$1.79 MX$31.11
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$2.18 MX$37.87
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.08 MX$18.73
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.04 MX$18.04
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.97 MX$69.1
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$10.20 MX$178
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.73 MX$30.04
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.50 MX$43.46
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ellerton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.82 BBD 3.64
$0.52 MX$9.02
250.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.18 BBD 40.36
$26.97 MX$469
-25.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$24.62 BBD 49.25
$3.14 MX$54.7
684.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.40 MX$41.80
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.09 MX$53.7
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$1.27 MX$22.16
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.2K BBD 98.4K
$30.9K MX$537.3K
59.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.2K BBD 88.3K
$23.3K MX$405.7K
89.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ellerton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.2 BBD 198
$82.0 MX$1,427
20.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$22.45 MX$391
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$80.8 BBD 162
$29.66 MX$516
172.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ellerton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$51.9 MX$903
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.67 MX$325
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.05 BBD 20.11
$4.97 MX$86.5
102.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ellerton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$198 MX$3,442
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$5,273 MX$91.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ellerton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.0 BBD 118
$36.34 MX$632
62.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 BBD 69.5
$40.05 MX$697
-13.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.5 BBD 139
$79.9 MX$1,390
-13.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.4 BBD 171
$88.9 MX$1,547
-3.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ellerton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$303 BBD 607
$963 MX$16.8K
-68.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$255 BBD 510
$465 MX$8,086
-45.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$741 BBD 1,483
$1,596 MX$27.8K
-53.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$603 BBD 1,205
$1,209 MX$21.0K
-50.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,942 MX$68.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,448 MX$112.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ellerton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$720 MX$12.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
11.42
-

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

Last update for Ellerton: April 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $303 in Ellerton and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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
Ellerton vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Ellerton?
Ellerton is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment. The 69% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,141 in Ellerton and $1,930 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 Ellerton and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $303 in Ellerton versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Ellerton and Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 557% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Ellerton runs roughly 34% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ellerton or Playa del Carmen?
At $761 in Ellerton versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ellerton but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Ellerton the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ellerton or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Ellerton 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.
Which city is safer, Ellerton or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Ellerton 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 Ellerton gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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