Cost of Living Comparison Between Etten-Leur and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Etten-Leur and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,564 in Etten-Leur versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,821 in Etten-Leur versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,078 in Etten-Leur versus $3,374 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Etten-Leur is roughly 98% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Etten-Leur is 87% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Etten-Leur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.57 €20.26
$11.71 MX$198
101.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.9 €85.9
$46.59 MX$788
114.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.17 €12.18
$11.65 MX$197
21.63%
Cappuccino
$3.91 €3.36
$4.09 MX$69.2
-4.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 €3.09
$1.37 MX$23.23
162.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 €2.57
$0.83 MX$14.09
259.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.31 €5.42
$3.35 MX$56.7
88.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.56 €4.78
$6.91 MX$117
-19.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Etten-Leur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 €1.24
$1.73 MX$29.20
-16.76%
White Bread (500g)
$2.14 €1.84
$2.26 MX$38.21
-5.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.62 €2.25
$1.77 MX$29.91
48.02%
Eggs
$5.01 €4.31
$2.73 MX$46.19
83.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.24 €13.10
$9.18 MX$155
66.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.03 €12.92
$8.92 MX$151
68.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.43 €15.84
$12.60 MX$213
46.27%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 €2.49
$3.02 MX$51.1
-3.97%
Banana (1kg)
$2.51 €2.15
$1.57 MX$26.55
59.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 €1.63
$2.13 MX$35.93
-10.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.94 €5.11
$2.26 MX$38.28
162.83%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 €1.74
$2.00 MX$33.88
1.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.22 €1.91
$2.06 MX$34.90
7.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.37 €1.18
$1.18 MX$19.94
16.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 €0.66
$1.20 MX$20.35
-35.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.72 €12.66
$4.63 MX$78.4
217.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.42 €6.38
$10.69 MX$181
-30.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 €1.29
$1.62 MX$27.38
-7.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 €2.37
$2.88 MX$48.70
-4.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Etten-Leur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.50 €3.01
$0.57 MX$9.69
514.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$93.7 €80.5
$29.83 MX$504
213.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.40 €2.93
$5.45 MX$92.1
-37.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.73 €1.49
$3.70 MX$62.6
-53.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.91 €19.70
$5.98 MX$101
283.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.47 €2.12
$1.55 MX$26.26
59.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.8K €36.8K
$22.3K MX$377.4K
91.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.4K €33.9K
$25.9K MX$438.7K
51.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Etten-Leur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$194 €167
$89.1 MX$1,507
117.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.05 €24.11
$25.04 MX$423
12.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.87 €42.87
$31.50 MX$532
58.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Etten-Leur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.19 €17.36
$67.8 MX$1,146
-70.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.82 €23.06
$28.92 MX$489
-7.26%
Cinema Ticket
$15.79 €13.58
$5.05 MX$85.4
212.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Etten-Leur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$709 €610
$225 MX$3,803
215.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,584 €4,800
$4,222 MX$71.4K
32.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Etten-Leur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.1 €74.9
$47.44 MX$802
83.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.1 €43.96
$44.98 MX$760
13.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 €81.1
$82.0 MX$1,386
15.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148 €127
$92.1 MX$1,557
60.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Etten-Leur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,461 €1,256
$1,069 MX$18.1K
36.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,308 €1,124
$405 MX$6,852
222.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,463 €2,117
$1,935 MX$32.7K
27.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,943 €1,670
$1,301 MX$22.0K
49.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,268 €3,669
$3,995 MX$67.5K
6.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,527 €3,892
$6,626 MX$112.0K
-31.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Etten-Leur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$749 MX$12.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.89
11.45
-66.03%

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

Last update for Etten-Leur: August 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,461 in Etten-Leur and $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $100 in Etten-Leur vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $362 vs $277 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
Etten-Leur vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Etten-Leur?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 98% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,846 in Etten-Leur and $1,940 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 Etten-Leur and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,461 in Etten-Leur versus $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Etten-Leur or in Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $100 in Etten-Leur. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Etten-Leur and in Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,564 per month in Etten-Leur versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen – a 98% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Etten-Leur or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,564 in Etten-Leur, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Etten-Leur. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Etten-Leur or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Etten-Leur, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Etten-Leur or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Etten-Leur 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 Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 98% less than in Etten-Leur. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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