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 $1,302 per month in Jolly Harbour vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,922 per month in Jolly Harbour vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,542 per month in Jolly Harbour vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Jolly Harbour costs about 1% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Jolly Harbour and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Jolly Harbour 5% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.14 EC$24.69

$11.71 MX$198

-21.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.7 EC$202

$46.59 MX$787

60.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.27 EC$19.62

$11.65 MX$197

-37.60%

Cappuccino

$5.67 EC$15.30

$4.09 MX$69.1

38.63%

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

$2.27 EC$6.13

$1.37 MX$23.21

65.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 EC$3.06

$0.83 MX$14.08

36.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.40 EC$14.58

$3.35 MX$56.6

61.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.49 EC$12.11

$6.91 MX$117

-35.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 MX$29.16

White Bread (500g)

$3.05 EC$8.22

$2.26 MX$38.17

34.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.57 EC$15.05

$1.77 MX$29.88

214.69%

Eggs

$7.76 EC$20.95

$2.73 MX$46.14

184.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.70 EC$15.39

$9.18 MX$155

-37.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.47 EC$17.47

$8.92 MX$151

-27.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.51 EC$44.57

$12.60 MX$213

31.03%

Apples (1kg)

$5.60 EC$15.11

$3.02 MX$51.0

85.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 EC$5.03

$1.57 MX$26.52

18.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.88 EC$7.79

$2.13 MX$35.89

35.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.68 EC$15.34

$2.26 MX$38.23

151.33%

Potato (1kg)

$5.54 EC$14.95

$2.00 MX$33.84

177.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.06 MX$34.86

Lettuce (1 head)

$6.37 EC$17.19

$1.18 MX$19.92

439.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.33

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.63 MX$78.3

Wine (Bottle)

$12.87 EC$34.76

$10.69 MX$180

20.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 EC$3.43

$1.62 MX$27.35

-21.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 EC$5.14

$2.88 MX$48.65

-34.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.88 EC$5.08

$0.57 MX$9.68

229.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.83 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.45 MX$92.0

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$5.69 EC$15.36

$3.70 MX$62.6

53.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 MX$101

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.68 EC$1.83

$1.55 MX$26.23

-56.13%

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

$22.3K MX$377.0K

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

$25.9K MX$438.2K

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

$512 EC$1,383

$89.1 MX$1,505

474.65%

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

$25.04 MX$423

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.2 EC$179

$31.50 MX$532

110.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.1 EC$203

$67.8 MX$1,145

10.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$56.4 EC$152

$28.92 MX$488

94.85%

Cinema Ticket

$16.47 EC$44.46

$5.05 MX$85.3

226.14%

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

$225 MX$3,798

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,222 MX$71.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.44 MX$801

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.98 MX$759

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 MX$1,384

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.1 MX$1,555

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,069 MX$18.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$405 MX$6,844

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,935 MX$32.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,301 MX$22.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,995 MX$67.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,626 MX$111.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$749 MX$12.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

-47.60%

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

Last update for Jolly Harbour: August 30, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $75.0 in Jolly Harbour versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $340 vs $277 – 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 1% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,953 per month in Jolly Harbour and $1,940 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 $1,302 in Jolly Harbour and $1,293 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 23% 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 $1,293, than in Jolly Harbour at $1,302. 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 $1,293 versus $1,302 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.