😐A single person spends $2,335 per month in Grand Falls-Windsor vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,414 per month in Grand Falls-Windsor vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,493 per month in Grand Falls-Windsor vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Grand Falls-Windsor costs about 80% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Grand Falls-Windsor sits 74% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Grand Falls-Windsor
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.77CA$23.32
$11.73MX$203
42.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.6CA$95.4
$41.62MX$719
64.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.19CA$15.56
$10.64MX$184
5.17%
Cappuccino
$3.67CA$5.11
$3.52MX$60.8
4.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98CA$2.75
$1.51MX$26.09
31.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63CA$2.27
$0.97MX$16.82
68.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.63CA$7.83
$2.95MX$51.0
90.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.95CA$8.28
$4.45MX$77.0
33.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Grand Falls-Windsor
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.13CA$2.96
$1.38MX$23.90
54.35%
White Bread(500g)
$2.59CA$3.60
$1.89MX$32.69
37.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.56CA$4.95
$1.64MX$28.29
117.07%
Eggs
$3.50CA$4.86
$2.51MX$43.30
39.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.36CA$15.81
$8.34MX$144
36.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.80CA$16.42
$8.34MX$144
41.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.78CA$20.55
$10.73MX$185
37.74%
Apples(1kg)
$4.08CA$5.67
$2.60MX$45.00
56.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.42CA$1.98
$1.46MX$25.18
-2.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.73CA$5.19
$1.90MX$32.84
96.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.85CA$5.35
$2.08MX$35.88
85.10%
Potato(1kg)
$2.38CA$3.31
$1.78MX$30.68
33.71%
Onion(1kg)
$2.59CA$3.60
$2.19MX$37.76
18.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.53CA$3.52
$1.04MX$17.97
143.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.80CA$2.50
$1.08MX$18.60
66.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.16CA$19.69
$4.08MX$70.5
247.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.28CA$17.08
$10.32MX$178
18.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81CA$3.90
$1.71MX$29.59
64.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13CA$4.35
$2.58MX$44.50
21.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Grand Falls-Windsor
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.44CA$3.39
$0.51MX$8.81
378.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$64.1CA$89.1
$26.46MX$457
142.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.16CA$4.39
$3.26MX$56.4
-3.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.42CA$1.97
$2.49MX$43.05
-42.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.06CA$36.25
$3.25MX$56.1
701.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.12CA$1.56
$1.31MX$22.59
-14.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5KCA$35.4K
$30.3KMX$523.2K
-15.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.9KCA$29.1K
$23.4KMX$404.9K
-10.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Grand Falls-Windsor
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$142CA$197
$82.9MX$1,432
70.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.44CA$60.4
$22.22MX$384
95.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.8CA$88.8
$29.34MX$507
117.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Grand Falls-Windsor
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.67CA$59.4
$51.6MX$892
-17.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.32MX$317
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.29CA$15.70
$5.07MX$87.5
122.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Grand Falls-Windsor
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$738CA$1,026
$201MX$3,470
267.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9KCA$16.6K
$5,212MX$90.1K
128.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Grand Falls-Windsor
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8CA$74.9
$36.92MX$638
45.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.97CA$55.6
$39.79MX$688
0.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.9CA$121
$78.5MX$1,356
10.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108CA$150
$87.1MX$1,505
23.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Grand Falls-Windsor
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,338CA$1,861
$973MX$16.8K
37.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,172CA$1,630
$468MX$8,082
150.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,982CA$2,756
$1,641MX$28.4K
20.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,782CA$2,479
$1,221MX$21.1K
46.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,079CA$5,673
$3,946MX$68.2K
3.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,233CA$5,887
$6,498MX$112.3K
-34.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Grand Falls-Windsor
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$664MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.46
11.42
-43.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Grand Falls-Windsor: May 30, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,338 in Grand Falls-Windsor versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Grand Falls-Windsor versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $365 vs $249 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Grand Falls-Windsor vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Grand Falls-Windsor?
Yes – Grand Falls-Windsor is pricier by about 80%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,502 per month in Grand Falls-Windsor and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 142% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $738 per month in Grand Falls-Windsor and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Grand Falls-Windsor or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Grand Falls-Windsor at $2,335. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Grand Falls-Windsor it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Grand Falls-Windsor or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Grand Falls-Windsor makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Grand Falls-Windsor vs other spots: cost of living compared