🙂A single person spends $818 per month in Itapevi vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,330 per month in Itapevi vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,843 per month in Itapevi vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Itapevi is about 35% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Itapevi and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Itapevi39% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Itapevi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.31R$32.31
$11.72MX$204
-46.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.20R$170
$41.89MX$731
-20.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.28R$37.25
$10.51MX$183
-30.73%
Cappuccino
$1.81R$9.28
$3.59MX$62.5
-49.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33R$6.79
$1.51MX$26.31
-11.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93R$4.78
$0.92MX$15.96
1.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.84R$9.42
$2.96MX$51.6
-37.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35R$17.14
$4.41MX$76.9
-24.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Itapevi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09R$5.57
$1.40MX$24.35
-22.14%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57R$8.02
$1.88MX$32.87
-16.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.29R$6.62
$1.56MX$27.19
-17.31%
Eggs
$2.38R$12.20
$2.61MX$45.50
-8.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.38R$42.90
$8.32MX$145
0.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.72R$19.05
$8.35MX$146
-55.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.72R$44.61
$10.86MX$189
-19.71%
Apples(1kg)
$2.19R$11.20
$2.71MX$47.31
-19.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81R$9.25
$1.51MX$26.25
19.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.45R$7.44
$1.87MX$32.67
-22.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55R$7.93
$2.19MX$38.19
-29.22%
Potato(1kg)
$1.30R$6.66
$1.86MX$32.40
-30.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13R$5.80
$2.23MX$38.90
-49.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.76R$3.88
$1.07MX$18.63
-28.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65R$3.30
$1.09MX$18.94
-40.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.62R$13.41
$4.19MX$73.0
-37.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.66R$44.31
$10.43MX$182
-16.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37R$7.03
$1.66MX$28.91
-17.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41R$17.44
$2.61MX$45.56
30.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Itapevi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.94R$4.82
$0.54MX$9.45
74.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.30R$196
$26.16MX$456
46.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.88R$4.53
$3.08MX$53.7
-71.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.05R$5.39
$2.40MX$41.94
-56.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.67R$44.38
$3.13MX$54.5
177.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.05R$5.35
$1.31MX$22.87
-19.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4KR$114.5K
$29.8KMX$519.9K
-24.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6KR$151.2K
$23.3KMX$406.8K
26.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Itapevi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.95R$240
$81.3MX$1,418
-42.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.03R$76.9
$22.56MX$393
-33.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.49R$94.6
$30.05MX$524
-38.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Itapevi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.33R$114
$52.9MX$923
-57.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.70R$111
$18.39MX$321
18.00%
Cinema Ticket
$5.50R$28.14
$4.92MX$85.8
11.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Itapevi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$318R$1,626
$201MX$3,502
58.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,806R$34.8K
$5,175MX$90.2K
31.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Itapevi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.4R$289
$35.92MX$627
57.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.3R$262
$40.13MX$700
27.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.2R$431
$79.7MX$1,390
5.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.6R$372
$86.5MX$1,508
-16.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Itapevi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$316R$1,618
$978MX$17.1K
-67.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$215R$1,100
$470MX$8,206
-54.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$574R$2,936
$1,651MX$28.8K
-65.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$426R$2,179
$1,203MX$21.0K
-64.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,603R$8,201
$3,953MX$69.0K
-59.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,168R$5,978
$6,607MX$115.2K
-82.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Itapevi
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$677MX$11.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.92
11.42
-4.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Itapevi: July 26, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $316 in Itapevi versus $978 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 $33.00 in Itapevi versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $194 vs $252 – making Itapevi 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
Itapevi vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Itapevi or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen costs about 54% more than Itapevi, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Itapevi and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,227 per month in Itapevi and $1,890 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Itapevi or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Itapevi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Itapevi compared to Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 46% less in Itapevi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Itapevi and in Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $318 per month in Itapevi and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Itapevi or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Itapevi, where all-in costs run around $818, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Itapevi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Itapevi or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Itapevi costs $818 versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Itapevi or to Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Itapevi. 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.