🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $183 in Inhambane versus $1,215 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $314 in Inhambane versus $2,144 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $445 in Inhambane versus $3,072 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Inhambane costs roughly 85% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Inhambane86% lower, Playa del Carmen9% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Inhambane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$10.97MX$198
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$44.85MX$811
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$11.92MX$216
-
Cappuccino
-
$3.80MX$68.8
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.31MX$23.71
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.86MX$15.48
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.21MX$58.0
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.01MX$90.6
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Inhambane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$5.56MZN 351
$1.46MX$26.36
280.82%
White Bread(500g)
-
$2.33MX$42.06
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.00MZN 63.0
$1.44MX$26.07
-30.56%
Eggs
$1.85MZN 117
$2.46MX$44.50
-24.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$7.70MX$139
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.36MZN 339
$7.89MX$143
-32.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.65MZN 294
$12.80MX$231
-63.67%
Apples(1kg)
-
$2.92MX$52.7
-
Banana(1kg)
$3.21MZN 203
$1.42MX$25.70
126.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33MZN 147
$2.57MX$46.37
-9.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.54MZN 97.2
$2.14MX$38.63
-28.04%
Potato(1kg)
$2.29MZN 145
$1.95MX$35.19
17.44%
Onion(1kg)
$1.60MZN 101
$1.94MX$35.00
-17.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.80MZN 50.7
$1.15MX$20.80
-30.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65MZN 40.90
$1.22MX$22.07
-46.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.38MX$79.1
-
Wine(Bottle)
$7.89MZN 499
$9.85MX$178
-19.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.75MZN 47.16
$1.54MX$27.79
-51.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90MZN 56.8
$2.72MX$49.08
-66.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Inhambane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.52MX$9.49
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$27.42MX$496
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$4.91MX$88.8
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$3.52MX$63.7
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.69MX$103
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.48MZN 93.7
$1.54MX$27.84
-3.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.2KMX$383.9K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$24.5KMX$442.6K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Inhambane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$83.6MX$1,511
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$24.03MX$434
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$29.33MX$530
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Inhambane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$64.9MX$1,172
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.46MX$532
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$5.09MX$91.9
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Inhambane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$208MX$3,754
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$4,045MX$73.1K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Inhambane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$44.55MX$805
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$42.06MX$760
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$75.5MX$1,365
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$91.4MX$1,652
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Inhambane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$986MX$17.8K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$385MX$6,962
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,713MX$31.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,108MX$20.0K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,016MX$72.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,247MX$112.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Inhambane
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$758MX$13.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
11.45
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Inhambane: October 3, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 4, 2026
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
Inhambane vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Inhambane?
Inhambane is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear. The 564% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $274 in Inhambane and $1,823 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.
How do food prices compare in Inhambane and in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 40% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Inhambane and in Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $183 per month in Inhambane versus $1,215 in Playa del Carmen – a 564% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Inhambane or in Playa del Carmen?
At $183 in Inhambane versus $1,215 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Inhambane but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Inhambane the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Inhambane or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Inhambane 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Inhambane gentler on the wallet – expenses run 564% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.