😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,362 in Jayuya versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,033 in Jayuya versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,704 in Jayuya versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Jayuya is roughly 8% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Jayuya is 0% above, Playa del Carmen is 7% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jayuya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94$11.94
$11.60MX$200
2.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.9$60.9
$47.11MX$812
29.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.78$7.78
$11.88MX$205
-34.51%
Cappuccino
$4.97$4.97
$3.98MX$68.6
24.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01$1.01
$1.43MX$24.60
-29.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29$1.29
$0.82MX$14.22
57.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.98$1.98
$3.19MX$55.0
-37.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96$3.96
$6.79MX$117
-41.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jayuya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.02$2.02
$1.68MX$28.89
20.24%
White Bread(500g)
$3.02$3.02
$2.20MX$37.88
37.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.58$3.58
$1.71MX$29.45
109.36%
Eggs
$5.48$5.48
$2.74MX$47.26
100.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.82$11.82
$9.58MX$165
23.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.12$6.12
$9.01MX$155
-32.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.97$6.97
$12.81MX$221
-45.59%
Apples(1kg)
$8.04$8.04
$2.89MX$49.81
178.20%
Banana(1kg)
$4.03$4.03
$1.50MX$25.81
168.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$7.17$7.17
$2.15MX$37.03
233.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.32$5.32
$2.26MX$38.96
135.40%
Potato(1kg)
$3.93$3.93
$1.98MX$34.15
98.48%
Onion(1kg)
$2.02$2.02
$1.99MX$34.30
1.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.96$3.96
$1.23MX$21.28
221.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.95$1.95
$1.20MX$20.63
62.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.10$11.10
$4.55MX$78.5
143.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.05$15.05
$10.37MX$179
45.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.18$2.18
$1.62MX$27.91
34.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47$3.47
$2.88MX$49.67
20.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Jayuya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.60MX$10.35
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$28.80MX$497
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.39MX$92.9
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$3.73MX$64.3
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.77MX$99.5
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.89$0.89
$1.54MX$26.48
-42.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$56.0K$56.0K
$22.5KMX$388.8K
148.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0K$35.0K
$26.1KMX$449.3K
34.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jayuya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$91.4MX$1,576
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.70$40.70
$25.20MX$435
61.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.3$69.3
$31.24MX$539
121.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jayuya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$67.2MX$1,159
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.11MX$502
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.90$8.90
$4.86MX$83.8
83.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jayuya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$224MX$3,856
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$4,229MX$72.9K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jayuya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.9$70.9
$47.10MX$812
50.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.03$49.03
$44.29MX$764
10.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.6$90.6
$80.1MX$1,381
13.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148$148
$92.7MX$1,598
59.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jayuya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$502$502
$1,063MX$18.3K
-52.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448$448
$390MX$6,728
14.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$648$648
$2,149MX$37.1K
-69.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$558$558
$1,272MX$21.9K
-56.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$845$845
$4,001MX$69.0K
-78.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$817$817
$6,502MX$112.1K
-87.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jayuya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,444$1,444
$758MX$13.1K
90.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.27
11.45
-53.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jayuya: September 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $502 in Jayuya and $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Jayuya pays 91% 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: $61.0 in Jayuya vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $396 vs $276 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
Jayuya vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Jayuya and in Playa del Carmen?
Jayuya and Playa del Carmen differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($1,362 vs $1,266 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: Jayuya or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 91% higher in Jayuya, 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 Jayuya and in Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $502 in Jayuya versus $1,063 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 $47.00 versus $61.0 in Jayuya. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Jayuya or Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,362 per month in Jayuya versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen – a 8% 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 $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,362 in Jayuya, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Jayuya. 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 Jayuya 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 Jayuya or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Jayuya 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: Jayuya or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Jayuya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.