😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,553 in Ijmuiden versus $1,330 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,696 in Ijmuiden versus $2,336 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,839 in Ijmuiden versus $3,341 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Ijmuiden is roughly 92% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ijmuiden is 86% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ijmuiden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.01€17.11
$13.02MX$221
53.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.6€59.6
$46.25MX$784
50.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.93€11.06
$12.59MX$213
2.70%
Cappuccino
$4.56€3.90
$4.00MX$67.9
14.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.32
$1.42MX$24.08
173.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23€2.76
$0.81MX$13.73
298.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.50€2.99
$3.05MX$51.7
14.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.33€4.56
$6.82MX$116
-21.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ijmuiden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$1.71MX$29.04
-24.56%
White Bread(500g)
$2.57€2.19
$2.22MX$37.62
15.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.70€2.31
$1.72MX$29.13
56.98%
Eggs
$4.66€3.98
$2.71MX$45.99
71.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.15€12.96
$9.37MX$159
61.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.63€12.51
$8.86MX$150
65.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.27€13.92
$12.78MX$217
27.31%
Apples(1kg)
$2.68€2.30
$3.13MX$53.0
-14.38%
Banana(1kg)
$2.48€2.12
$1.55MX$26.24
60.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99€1.70
$2.15MX$36.51
-7.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.55€3.89
$2.35MX$39.89
93.62%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.67
$2.02MX$34.23
-2.97%
Onion(1kg)
$2.37€2.03
$1.99MX$33.67
19.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.33€1.14
$1.24MX$21.09
7.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.72
$1.19MX$20.21
-29.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.42€12.34
$4.65MX$78.8
210.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.76€5.78
$10.47MX$177
-35.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.53€1.31
$1.58MX$26.82
-3.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.39
$2.92MX$49.48
-4.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Ijmuiden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.08€2.64
$0.56MX$9.53
450.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$103€87.8
$29.76MX$504
244.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.21€3.60
$5.32MX$90.2
-20.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.51€3.00
$3.72MX$63.0
-5.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.15€24.93
$5.78MX$97.9
404.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.41€2.06
$1.55MX$26.27
55.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.9K€36.7K
$22.4KMX$379.1K
91.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.6K€34.7K
$25.6KMX$433.3K
58.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ijmuiden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$309€264
$89.3MX$1,513
245.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.99€15.39
$23.30MX$395
-22.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.4€43.93
$31.72MX$538
61.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ijmuiden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.01€38.50
$68.8MX$1,165
-34.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.04€18.85
$29.40MX$498
-25.03%
Cinema Ticket
$16.05€13.73
$5.06MX$85.7
217.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ijmuiden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,305€1,117
$222MX$3,765
487.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.4K€9,726
$4,293MX$72.7K
164.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ijmuiden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.2€72.0
$46.21MX$783
82.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.11€34.31
$44.43MX$753
-9.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116€99.4
$95.5MX$1,618
21.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133€113
$92.5MX$1,568
43.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ijmuiden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,257€1,075
$1,069MX$18.1K
17.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,073
$393MX$6,663
219.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,740€2,344
$1,988MX$33.7K
37.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,678€1,435
$1,304MX$22.1K
28.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,848€4,147
$4,037MX$68.4K
20.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,919€4,207
$6,627MX$112.3K
-25.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ijmuiden
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,320€3,695
$747MX$12.7K
478.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.5
11.6
-69.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ijmuiden: August 16, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 18, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,257 in Ijmuiden and $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ijmuiden pays 478% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Ijmuiden vs $46.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $347 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
Ijmuiden vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ijmuiden and in Playa del Carmen?
Ijmuiden and Playa del Carmen differ by about 92% in total monthly costs ($2,553 vs $1,330 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Ijmuiden or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 478% higher in Ijmuiden, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Ijmuiden and in Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,257 in Ijmuiden versus $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $70.0 in Ijmuiden. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ijmuiden or Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,553 per month in Ijmuiden versus $1,330 in Playa del Carmen – a 92% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,330 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,553 in Ijmuiden, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Ijmuiden. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ijmuiden and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ijmuiden or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ijmuiden 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.
Where should expats move: Ijmuiden or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 92% less than in Ijmuiden. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.