πA single person spends $1,011 per month in Juniyah vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,482 per month in Juniyah vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
πA family of three spends $1,953 per month in Juniyah vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
πJuniyah is about 22% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth Juniyah and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median β Juniyah25% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Juniyah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.67LBPΒ 954.8K
$11.73MX$203
-9.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.17LBPΒ 3.6M
$41.62MX$720
-3.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.10LBPΒ 724.8K
$10.64MX$184
-23.87%
Cappuccino
$2.05LBPΒ 183.6K
$3.52MX$60.9
-41.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98LBPΒ 87.6K
$1.51MX$26.12
-35.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86LBPΒ 77.1K
$0.97MX$16.84
-11.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.59LBPΒ 320.9K
$2.95MX$51.0
21.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.96LBPΒ 443.7K
$4.45MX$77.0
11.46%
π Groceries & Markets
Juniyah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67LBPΒ 149.8K
$1.38MX$23.93
21.01%
White Bread(500g)
$0.84LBPΒ 74.8K
$1.89MX$32.72
-55.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.30LBPΒ 116.5K
$1.64MX$28.32
-20.73%
Eggs
$2.75LBPΒ 246.4K
$2.51MX$43.34
9.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.31LBPΒ 1.0M
$8.34MX$144
35.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.43LBPΒ 396.2K
$8.34MX$144
-46.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.69LBPΒ 867.6K
$10.73MX$186
-9.69%
Apples(1kg)
$1.02LBPΒ 91.0K
$2.60MX$45.04
-60.77%
Banana(1kg)
$0.77LBPΒ 69.0K
$1.46MX$25.20
-47.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.12LBPΒ 100.3K
$1.90MX$32.87
-41.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.97LBPΒ 86.8K
$2.08MX$35.91
-53.37%
Potato(1kg)
$0.91LBPΒ 81.7K
$1.78MX$30.71
-48.88%
Onion(1kg)
$0.94LBPΒ 84.0K
$2.19MX$37.80
-57.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.49LBPΒ 43.6K
$1.04MX$17.99
-52.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42LBPΒ 37.2K
$1.08MX$18.62
-61.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.54LBPΒ 227.4K
$4.08MX$70.6
-37.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.05LBPΒ 899.5K
$10.32MX$178
-2.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13LBPΒ 101.1K
$1.71MX$29.61
-33.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96LBPΒ 175.3K
$2.58MX$44.54
-24.03%
π Getting Around
Juniyah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.03LBPΒ 91.9K
$0.51MX$8.81
101.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.15LBPΒ 2.0M
$26.46MX$458
-16.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.92LBPΒ 350.6K
$3.26MX$56.4
20.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.91LBPΒ 81.9K
$2.49MX$43.09
-63.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.72LBPΒ 1.8M
$3.25MX$56.2
506.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94LBPΒ 84.4K
$1.31MX$22.61
-28.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7KLBPΒ 1.9B
$30.3KMX$523.7K
-31.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0KLBPΒ 2.2B
$23.4KMX$405.3K
6.76%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Juniyah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$130LBPΒ 11.6M
$82.9MX$1,433
56.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.79LBPΒ 1.8M
$22.22MX$384
-10.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.21LBPΒ 2.4M
$29.34MX$507
-7.26%
π Sport & Entertainment
Juniyah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.21LBPΒ 3.6M
$51.6MX$893
-22.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.16LBPΒ 909.3K
$18.32MX$317
-44.54%
Cinema Ticket
$8.12LBPΒ 726.6K
$5.07MX$87.6
60.16%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Juniyah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306LBPΒ 27.4M
$201MX$3,473
52.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,490LBPΒ 133.4M
$5,212MX$90.1K
-71.41%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Juniyah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.94LBPΒ 1.8M
$36.92MX$639
-45.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.92LBPΒ 1.8M
$39.79MX$688
-49.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$52.8LBPΒ 4.7M
$78.5MX$1,357
-32.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.93LBPΒ 4.5M
$87.1MX$1,506
-42.67%
π Accommodation & Living
Juniyah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$394LBPΒ 35.2M
$973MX$16.8K
-59.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$329LBPΒ 29.4M
$468MX$8,090
-29.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$481LBPΒ 43.0M
$1,641MX$28.4K
-70.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$421LBPΒ 37.7M
$1,221MX$21.1K
-65.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,946MX$68.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$792LBPΒ 70.9M
$6,498MX$112.4K
-87.81%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Juniyah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$664MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.16
11.42
-2.28%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Juniyah: May 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $394 in Juniyah versus $973 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.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Juniyah versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $187 vs $249 β making Juniyah 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
Juniyah vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Juniyah?
Yes β Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 28%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,516 per month in Juniyah and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Juniyah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Juniyah or Playa del Carmen?
What are total monthly expenses in Juniyah vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,011 in Juniyah and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category β it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Juniyah or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Juniyah, where all-in costs run around $1,011, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Juniyah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Juniyah or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Juniyah β lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Juniyah. 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.