Cost of Living Comparison Between Jolly Harbour and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Jolly Harbour and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,327 per month in Jolly Harbour vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,986 per month in Jolly Harbour vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,645 per month in Jolly Harbour vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Jolly Harbour costs about 6% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jolly Harbour and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Jolly Harbour 1% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.01 EC$24.32

$11.99 MX$210

-24.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.9 EC$202

$41.78 MX$733

79.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 EC$20.20

$10.75 MX$189

-30.42%

Cappuccino

$5.45 EC$14.72

$3.50 MX$61.3

55.71%

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

$2.26 EC$6.11

$1.45 MX$25.41

55.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 EC$2.92

$0.88 MX$15.52

22.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.47 EC$14.76

$2.95 MX$51.7

85.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 EC$12.05

$4.51 MX$79.1

-1.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$25.12

White Bread (500g)

$2.93 EC$7.91

$1.84 MX$32.23

59.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.72 EC$12.75

$1.57 MX$27.51

200.64%

Eggs

$8.14 EC$21.96

$2.51 MX$44.06

224.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.51 EC$14.89

$8.28 MX$145

-33.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.42 EC$20.03

$8.43 MX$148

-11.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.61 EC$44.83

$10.68 MX$187

55.52%

Apples (1kg)

$5.42 EC$14.63

$2.61 MX$45.76

107.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 EC$5.07

$1.44 MX$25.22

30.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.13 EC$8.45

$1.96 MX$34.41

59.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.50 EC$9.44

$2.09 MX$36.74

67.46%

Potato (1kg)

$6.81 EC$18.39

$1.85 MX$32.47

268.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.44 EC$6.58

$2.17 MX$38.02

12.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.84 EC$10.37

$1.03 MX$18.09

272.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$4.56 EC$12.31

$1.07 MX$18.84

326.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MX$72.0

Wine (Bottle)

$12.99 EC$35.08

$10.17 MX$178

27.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 EC$3.59

$1.68 MX$29.38

-20.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 EC$8.45

$2.53 MX$44.31

23.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.81 EC$4.90

$0.51 MX$8.93

254.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$457

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.7

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$5.45 EC$14.73

$2.41 MX$42.19

126.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 EC$1.93

$1.32 MX$23.17

-45.45%

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

$29.7K MX$520.9K

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

$23.7K MX$415.0K

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

$519 EC$1,401

$82.0 MX$1,439

532.70%

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

$22.95 MX$403

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.4 EC$177

$30.11 MX$528

117.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.9 EC$202

$52.0 MX$912

44.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$56.1 EC$152

$18.53 MX$325

202.91%

Cinema Ticket

$16.43 EC$44.35

$4.98 MX$87.3

229.92%

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

$197 MX$3,463

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$93.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.60 MX$624

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$707

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,381

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,560

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 MX$16.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,314

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 MX$28.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 MX$21.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$71.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$113.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 MX$11.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

-47.46%

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

Last update for Jolly Harbour: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Jolly Harbour versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $387 vs $249 – making Playa del Carmen 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

Jolly Harbour vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jolly Harbour costs about 6% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,991 per month in Jolly Harbour and $1,884 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 $1,327 in Jolly Harbour and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 56% more in Jolly Harbour, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Jolly Harbour at $1,327. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jolly Harbour it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,256 versus $1,327 in Jolly Harbour. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jolly Harbour makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.