πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,347 in Macclessfield versus $1,262 in Playa del Carmen.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $3,280 in Macclessfield versus $2,158 in Playa del Carmen.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,213 in Macclessfield versus $3,054 in Playa del Carmen.
πLiving in Macclessfield is roughly 86% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Macclessfield is 74% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Macclessfield
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.35Β£15.08
$11.61MX$201
75.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$96.1Β£71.2
$42.75MX$742
124.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.75Β£7.23
$10.60MX$184
-8.02%
Cappuccino
$4.73Β£3.51
$3.59MX$62.3
31.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13Β£1.58
$1.45MX$25.21
46.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44Β£1.07
$0.90MX$15.58
60.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.76Β£5.01
$3.03MX$52.6
123.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.02Β£4.46
$4.56MX$79.2
32.02%
π Groceries & Markets
Macclessfield
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74Β£1.29
$1.45MX$25.20
20.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.61Β£1.19
$1.83MX$31.72
-12.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.22Β£1.65
$1.61MX$27.92
37.89%
Eggs
$3.99Β£2.96
$2.54MX$44.05
57.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.02Β£8.17
$8.54MX$148
29.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.93Β£6.62
$8.47MX$147
5.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.32Β£11.35
$10.86MX$189
41.07%
Apples(1kg)
$2.91Β£2.15
$2.73MX$47.37
6.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.83Β£1.36
$1.49MX$25.91
22.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.66Β£2.72
$1.94MX$33.73
88.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.73Β£2.76
$2.16MX$37.57
72.69%
Potato(1kg)
$1.77Β£1.31
$1.85MX$32.05
-4.32%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89Β£1.40
$2.19MX$38.00
-13.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.21Β£0.90
$1.07MX$18.62
13.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.49Β£1.11
$1.08MX$18.81
37.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$19.22Β£14.24
$4.06MX$70.5
373.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.43Β£6.99
$10.46MX$182
-9.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.17Β£2.35
$1.65MX$28.71
92.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50Β£2.59
$2.55MX$44.23
37.25%
π Getting Around
Macclessfield
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.01Β£1.49
$0.56MX$9.65
258.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$88.5Β£65.6
$26.20MX$455
237.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.31Β£3.93
$3.14MX$54.5
69.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92Β£1.43
$2.37MX$41.17
-18.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.41Β£12.16
$3.24MX$56.2
406.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.88Β£1.39
$1.31MX$22.81
43.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.6KΒ£28.6K
$30.5KMX$530.2K
26.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.6KΒ£27.9K
$23.8KMX$413.6K
57.96%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Macclessfield
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$290Β£215
$83.1MX$1,443
248.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.05Β£17.08
$22.15MX$385
4.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.21Β£31.28
$29.37MX$510
43.72%
π Sport & Entertainment
Macclessfield
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.98Β£34.07
$51.2MX$889
-10.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.68Β£4.95
$18.69MX$324
-64.26%
Cinema Ticket
$13.34Β£9.89
$4.89MX$84.9
172.80%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Macclessfield
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,647Β£1,221
$199MX$3,449
729.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2KΒ£12.0K
$5,207MX$90.4K
211.28%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Macclessfield
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.8Β£67.3
$35.93MX$624
152.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.43Β£31.44
$39.39MX$684
7.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.2Β£64.6
$80.3MX$1,394
8.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106Β£78.8
$87.6MX$1,520
21.41%
π Accommodation & Living
Macclessfield
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$894Β£663
$963MX$16.7K
-7.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$988Β£732
$482MX$8,370
104.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,275Β£945
$1,645MX$28.6K
-22.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,378Β£1,021
$1,192MX$20.7K
15.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,359Β£1,007
$3,957MX$68.7K
-65.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,348Β£999
$6,513MX$113.1K
-79.31%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Macclessfield
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,559Β£2,638
$726MX$12.6K
390.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.76
11.42
-49.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Macclessfield: April 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $894 in Macclessfield and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Macclessfield pays 390% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $96 in Macclessfield vs $43 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $314 vs $253 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
Macclessfield vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Macclessfield or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost β living expenses run 86% lower than in Macclessfield. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Macclessfield or Playa del Carmen?
Macclessfield pays 390% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Macclessfield vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $894 in Macclessfield versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Macclessfield and Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $1,647 in Macclessfield versus $199 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Macclessfield or Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Macclessfield. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Macclessfield or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,262 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,347 in Macclessfield, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Macclessfield. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Macclessfield or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $1,262 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Macclessfield compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Macclessfield 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet β expenses run 86% less than in Macclessfield. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Macclessfield vs other spots: cost of living compared