🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $714 in Irati versus $1,259 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,185 in Irati versus $2,177 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,656 in Irati versus $3,095 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Irati costs roughly 43% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Irati47% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Irati
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.23R$36.55
$11.95MX$208
-39.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.72R$181
$41.94MX$730
-14.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.23R$31.49
$10.42MX$181
-40.21%
Cappuccino
$1.30R$6.56
$3.51MX$61.2
-62.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93R$4.72
$1.52MX$26.39
-38.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66R$3.33
$0.91MX$15.84
-27.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.29R$6.54
$3.04MX$52.9
-57.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88R$9.49
$4.37MX$76.1
-56.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Irati
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.69R$3.48
$1.42MX$24.73
-51.41%
White Bread(500g)
$1.05R$5.33
$1.83MX$31.87
-42.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.67R$3.41
$1.63MX$28.45
-58.90%
Eggs
$1.27R$6.42
$2.54MX$44.20
-50.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.66R$28.63
$8.57MX$149
-33.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.13R$15.84
$8.49MX$148
-63.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.42R$37.52
$10.80MX$188
-31.30%
Apples(1kg)
$1.32R$6.67
$2.75MX$47.94
-52.00%
Banana(1kg)
$0.70R$3.52
$1.44MX$25.00
-51.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.75R$3.80
$1.89MX$32.83
-60.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.22R$6.15
$2.17MX$37.77
-43.78%
Potato(1kg)
$0.74R$3.76
$1.78MX$30.97
-58.43%
Onion(1kg)
$0.52R$2.61
$2.22MX$38.71
-76.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.46R$2.32
$1.07MX$18.60
-57.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54R$2.74
$1.08MX$18.79
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.01R$10.17
$4.15MX$72.2
-51.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.00R$40.45
$10.45MX$182
-23.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99R$5.02
$1.74MX$30.34
-43.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40R$7.07
$2.58MX$44.92
-45.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Irati
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86R$4.37
$0.51MX$8.94
68.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.81R$196
$25.94MX$451
49.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.27R$6.43
$3.21MX$55.9
-60.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.66R$3.36
$2.50MX$43.55
-73.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.92R$24.91
$3.19MX$55.4
54.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09R$5.49
$1.26MX$21.87
-13.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.1KR$81.3K
$29.7KMX$516.6K
-45.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KR$119.5K
$23.7KMX$412.1K
-0.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Irati
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$52.9R$268
$82.0MX$1,427
-35.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.82R$64.9
$22.73MX$395
-43.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.16R$81.7
$29.42MX$512
-45.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Irati
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.30R$113
$52.2MX$908
-57.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.37R$108
$18.45MX$321
15.83%
Cinema Ticket
$6.16R$31.14
$4.93MX$85.9
24.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Irati
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269R$1,360
$202MX$3,511
33.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,598R$28.3K
$5,217MX$90.8K
7.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Irati
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.00R$228
$35.93MX$625
25.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.72R$221
$40.33MX$702
8.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.6R$413
$79.9MX$1,390
2.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.1R$269
$89.3MX$1,554
-40.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Irati
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$311R$1,575
$948MX$16.5K
-67.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$213R$1,076
$465MX$8,097
-54.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$589R$2,979
$1,630MX$28.4K
-63.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433R$2,188
$1,193MX$20.8K
-63.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,640R$8,295
$3,933MX$68.4K
-58.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,162R$5,880
$6,428MX$111.9K
-81.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Irati
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$519R$2,626
$658MX$11.5K
-21.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.2
11.42
-10.68%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Irati: July 20, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $311 in Irati and $948 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 27% 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: $36.00 in Irati vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $135 vs $252 per month, with Irati 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
Irati vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Irati or Playa del Carmen?
Irati wins on cost – living expenses run 76% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Irati the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Irati or in Playa del Carmen?
On paper, salaries run 27% lower in Playa del Carmen. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Irati compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $311 in Irati versus $948 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Irati compared to Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Irati runs roughly 50% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Irati and in Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $269 in Irati versus $202 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Irati or in Playa del Carmen?
At $714 in Irati versus $1,259 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Irati but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Irati the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Irati or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Irati delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $714 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Irati hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Irati gentler on the wallet – expenses run 76% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.