Cost of Living Comparison Between Isa Town and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Isa Town and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $721 per month in Isa Town vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,715 per month in Isa Town vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,710 per month in Isa Town vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Isa Town is about 44% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Isa Town and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Isa Town 46% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.91 BHD 2.98

$11.73 MX$203

-32.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.15 BHD 9.86

$41.62 MX$720

-37.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.69 BHD 2.52

$10.64 MX$184

-37.12%

Cappuccino

$4.56 BHD 1.72

$3.52 MX$60.9

29.55%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.89 BHD 0.34

$1.51 MX$26.12

-41.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 BHD 0.10

$0.97 MX$16.84

-73.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.48 BHD 2.44

$2.95 MX$51.0

119.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 BHD 0.73

$1.38 MX$23.93

40.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 BHD 0.61

$1.89 MX$32.72

-14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.61 BHD 1.36

$1.64 MX$28.32

120.12%

Eggs

$2.66 BHD 1.00

$2.51 MX$43.34

5.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.29 BHD 5.01

$8.34 MX$144

59.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.70 BHD 2.53

$8.34 MX$144

-19.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.16 BHD 6.09

$10.73 MX$186

50.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.27 BHD 0.86

$2.60 MX$45.04

-12.69%

Banana (1kg)

$2.29 BHD 0.87

$1.46 MX$25.20

56.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 BHD 0.83

$1.90 MX$32.87

15.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.01 BHD 0.76

$2.08 MX$35.91

-3.37%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 BHD 0.77

$1.78 MX$30.71

14.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.44 BHD 0.54

$2.19 MX$37.80

-34.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 BHD 0.34

$1.04 MX$17.99

-14.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 BHD 0.29

$1.08 MX$18.62

-28.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.6

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.61

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.54

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 BHD 0.39

$0.51 MX$8.81

103.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.23 BHD 4.99

$26.46 MX$458

-50.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.23 BHD 1.97

$3.26 MX$56.4

60.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.09

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 BHD 0.29

$1.31 MX$22.61

-41.22%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.3K MX$523.7K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$13.2K BHD 4,994

$23.4K MX$405.3K

-43.47%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.9 MX$1,433

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.22 MX$384

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.81 BHD 15.01

$29.34 MX$507

35.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$108 BHD 40.76

$51.6 MX$893

109.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$10.56 BHD 3.98

$5.07 MX$87.6

108.28%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$201 MX$3,473

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,942 BHD 2,994

$5,212 MX$90.1K

52.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.48 BHD 15.26

$36.92 MX$639

9.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.46 BHD 5.07

$39.79 MX$688

-66.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.5 BHD 30.34

$78.5 MX$1,357

2.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 BHD 39.76

$87.1 MX$1,506

21.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,090

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,334 BHD 503

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-18.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,046 BHD 394

$1,221 MX$21.1K

-14.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,058 BHD 399

$664 MX$11.5K

59.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Isa Town: May 31, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 59% higher in Isa Town, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Isa Town versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $248 vs $249 – making Isa Town 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

Isa Town vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 80%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,081 per month in Isa Town and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $721 in Isa Town and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Isa Town and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Isa Town, where all-in costs run around $721, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Isa Town it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Isa Town – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Isa Town. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.