🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $331 in Madaripur versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $556 in Madaripur versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $782 in Madaripur versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Madaripur costs roughly 74% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Madaripur75% lower, Playa del Carmen4% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Madaripur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.59৳195
$11.94MX$209
-86.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.91৳1,830
$42.75MX$748
-65.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.48৳919
$10.59MX$185
-29.37%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.61৳689
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04৳495
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.62৳199
$3.62MX$63.4
-55.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38৳46.99
$1.47MX$25.69
-74.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16৳19.42
$0.94MX$16.51
-82.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.09MX$54.1
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.46MX$78.0
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madaripur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.74৳90.4
$1.43MX$24.94
-48.25%
White Bread(500g)
$0.59৳72.1
$1.88MX$32.97
-68.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.66৳80.8
$1.63MX$28.50
-59.51%
Eggs
$1.21৳149
$2.64MX$46.26
-54.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.14৳1,123
$8.21MX$144
11.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$1.70৳208
$8.29MX$145
-79.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.34৳901
$11.10MX$194
-33.87%
Apples(1kg)
$2.21৳272
$2.65MX$46.40
-16.60%
Banana(1kg)
$0.95৳116
$1.50MX$26.26
-36.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02৳248
$1.99MX$34.79
1.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.80৳98.1
$2.08MX$36.33
-61.54%
Potato(1kg)
$0.44৳53.8
$1.79MX$31.29
-75.42%
Onion(1kg)
$0.91৳112
$2.18MX$38.09
-58.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.41৳50.1
$1.08MX$18.84
-62.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.25৳30.61
$1.04MX$18.15
-75.96%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$8.59৳1,055
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.85৳104
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52৳187
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.84৳348
$3.97MX$69.5
-28.46%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.20MX$179
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.73MX$30.22
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.50MX$43.71
-
🚌 Getting Around
Madaripur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.22৳27.02
$0.52MX$9.07
-57.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.40৳1,276
$26.97MX$472
-61.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.85৳105
$3.14MX$55.0
-72.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.43৳52.4
$2.40MX$42.04
-82.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.39৳293
$3.09MX$54.0
-22.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.05৳129
$1.27MX$22.28
-17.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7K৳4.0M
$30.9KMX$540.4K
5.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K৳4.1M
$23.3KMX$408.0K
43.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madaripur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$22.32৳2,740
$82.0MX$1,435
-72.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.84৳717
$22.45MX$393
-73.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.12৳1,610
$29.66MX$519
-55.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madaripur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$13.65৳1,675
$51.9MX$908
-73.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.74৳1,442
$18.67MX$327
-37.12%
Cinema Ticket
$3.37৳414
$4.97MX$87.0
-32.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madaripur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$30.07৳3,692
$198MX$3,462
-84.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,359৳166.8K
$5,273MX$92.3K
-74.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madaripur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.63৳2,042
$36.34MX$636
-54.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.29৳2,246
$40.05MX$701
-54.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$20.45৳2,511
$79.9MX$1,398
-74.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$34.06৳4,181
$88.9MX$1,555
-61.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madaripur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$70.8৳8,695
$963MX$16.9K
-92.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$41.12৳5,048
$465MX$8,133
-91.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$164৳20.1K
$1,596MX$27.9K
-89.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$97.8৳12.0K
$1,209MX$21.2K
-91.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$609৳74.7K
$3,942MX$69.0K
-84.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$397৳48.8K
$6,448MX$112.8K
-93.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madaripur
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$164৳20.1K
$720MX$12.6K
-77.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.32
11.42
-0.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Madaripur: April 25, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $70.8 in Madaripur and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 340% 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: $15.00 in Madaripur vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $115 vs $251 per month, with Madaripur 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
Madaripur vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Madaripur and Playa del Carmen?
Madaripur and Playa del Carmen differ by about 289% in total monthly costs ($331 vs $1,287 including rent). Madaripur is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Playa del Carmen earns 340% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Madaripur and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $70.8 in Madaripur versus $963 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 Madaripur – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Madaripur or Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $331 per month in Madaripur versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – a 289% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $331 in Madaripur versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Madaripur but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Madaripur the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Madaripur 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.
Where should expats move: Madaripur or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Madaripur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 289% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.