🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $751 in Ellerton versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,117 in Ellerton versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,484 in Ellerton versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Ellerton costs roughly 40% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Ellerton44% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ellerton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.62BBD 15.25
$11.72MX$203
-34.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$41.89MX$725
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.14BBD 10.28
$10.51MX$182
-51.09%
Cappuccino
$0.99BBD 1.97
$3.59MX$62.0
-72.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72BBD 3.44
$1.51MX$26.10
13.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26BBD 2.53
$0.92MX$15.83
36.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74BBD 3.47
$2.96MX$51.2
-41.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26BBD 4.52
$4.41MX$76.3
-48.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ellerton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.97BBD 3.94
$1.40MX$24.16
40.71%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83BBD 3.66
$1.88MX$32.60
-2.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.56MX$26.97
-
Eggs
-
$2.61MX$45.14
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$8.32MX$144
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$8.35MX$145
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$10.86MX$188
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$2.71MX$46.93
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.51MX$26.04
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.87MX$32.41
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$2.19MX$37.89
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.86MX$32.14
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$2.23MX$38.59
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.07MX$18.48
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.09MX$18.79
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.19MX$72.4
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.43MX$180
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.66MX$28.68
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.61MX$45.19
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ellerton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.91BBD 3.81
$0.54MX$9.37
253.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.87BBD 39.74
$26.16MX$453
-24.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$25.39BBD 50.8
$3.08MX$53.3
724.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$2.40MX$41.61
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.13MX$54.1
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.31MX$22.69
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$50.7KBBD 101.4K
$29.8KMX$515.7K
70.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.6KBBD 91.2K
$23.3KMX$403.5K
95.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ellerton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$98.3BBD 197
$81.3MX$1,406
20.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$22.56MX$390
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$79.3BBD 159
$30.05MX$520
163.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ellerton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$52.9MX$915
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.39MX$318
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.82BBD 19.64
$4.92MX$85.1
99.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ellerton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$201MX$3,474
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,175MX$89.5K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ellerton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.3BBD 121
$35.92MX$622
67.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.72BBD 69.4
$40.13MX$694
-13.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.0BBD 138
$79.7MX$1,379
-13.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.3BBD 169
$86.5MX$1,496
-2.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ellerton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$300BBD 601
$978MX$16.9K
-69.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$252BBD 504
$470MX$8,140
-46.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$745BBD 1,490
$1,651MX$28.6K
-54.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$598BBD 1,197
$1,203MX$20.8K
-50.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,953MX$68.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,607MX$114.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ellerton
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$677MX$11.7K
-
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: July 25, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $300 in Ellerton and $978 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 68% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,126 in Ellerton and $1,890 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: $300 in Ellerton versus $978 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 561% 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 32% 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 living in Ellerton or in Playa del Carmen?
At $751 in Ellerton versus $1,260 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 68% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.