😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,435 in Etten-Leur versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,482 in Etten-Leur versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,530 in Etten-Leur versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Etten-Leur is roughly 94% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Etten-Leur is 82% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Etten-Leur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.46€15.29
$11.99MX$209
45.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.5€71.4
$41.78MX$728
95.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.95€12.22
$10.75MX$187
29.77%
Cappuccino
$3.86€3.38
$3.50MX$60.9
10.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18€2.78
$1.45MX$25.22
119.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30€2.02
$0.88MX$15.41
161.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.90€5.17
$2.95MX$51.3
100.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66€4.08
$4.51MX$78.6
3.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Etten-Leur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.12
$1.43MX$24.94
-11.19%
White Bread(500g)
$2.15€1.88
$1.84MX$31.99
16.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.20€2.80
$1.57MX$27.31
103.82%
Eggs
$4.53€3.96
$2.51MX$43.74
80.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.51€11.83
$8.28MX$144
63.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.23€14.21
$8.43MX$147
92.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.67€15.47
$10.68MX$186
65.45%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€2.00
$2.61MX$45.43
-12.26%
Banana(1kg)
$2.49€2.18
$1.44MX$25.04
72.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$1.96MX$34.16
1.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.72€4.13
$2.09MX$36.47
125.84%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08€1.82
$1.85MX$32.24
12.43%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.84
$2.17MX$37.74
-3.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.25€1.10
$1.03MX$17.96
21.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81€0.71
$1.07MX$18.70
-24.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.07€12.32
$4.10MX$71.4
243.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.65€5.82
$10.17MX$177
-34.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.38
$1.68MX$29.17
-6.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60€2.28
$2.53MX$43.98
2.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Etten-Leur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.56€3.12
$0.51MX$8.87
598.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$93.8€82.1
$26.04MX$453
260.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.55€3.11
$3.23MX$56.3
9.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.71€2.37
$2.41MX$41.88
12.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.89€20.05
$3.23MX$56.2
608.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.17€1.90
$1.32MX$23.00
64.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3K€29.2K
$29.7KMX$517.1K
12.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7K€26.0K
$23.7KMX$412.0K
25.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Etten-Leur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$193€169
$82.0MX$1,428
135.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.36€25.71
$22.95MX$400
27.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.13€43.02
$30.11MX$524
63.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Etten-Leur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.24€35.24
$52.0MX$905
-22.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.92€20.08
$18.53MX$323
23.69%
Cinema Ticket
$14.92€13.06
$4.98MX$86.6
199.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Etten-Leur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,092€957
$197MX$3,438
453.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,409€4,737
$5,336MX$92.9K
1.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Etten-Leur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.3€65.9
$35.60MX$620
111.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.73€40.93
$40.33MX$702
15.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.0€80.6
$78.8MX$1,371
16.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133€117
$88.9MX$1,549
49.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Etten-Leur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,413€1,237
$947MX$16.5K
49.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,172€1,027
$474MX$8,254
147.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,264€1,983
$1,644MX$28.6K
37.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,751€1,533
$1,211MX$21.1K
44.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,296€3,762
$4,056MX$70.6K
5.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,539€3,975
$6,470MX$112.7K
-29.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Etten-Leur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$654MX$11.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.32
11.42
-62.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Etten-Leur: July 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,413 in Etten-Leur and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $81.0 in Etten-Leur vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $349 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
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 94% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,653 in Etten-Leur and $1,884 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: $1,413 in Etten-Leur versus $947 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 $42.00 versus $81.0 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 $2,435 per month in Etten-Leur versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – a 94% 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 $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,435 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 94% less than in Etten-Leur. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Etten-Leur vs other spots: cost of living compared