Cost of Living Comparison Between Manavgat and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Manavgat and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,033 in Manavgat versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,590 in Manavgat versus $2,279 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,148 in Manavgat versus $3,292 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Manavgat costs roughly 18% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Manavgat 25% lower, Playa del Carmen 7% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Manavgat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.62 ₺371
$11.60 MX$200
-34.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.03 ₺1,952
$47.11 MX$811
-15.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.15 ₺397
$11.88 MX$205
-31.40%
Cappuccino
$3.20 ₺156
$3.98 MX$68.5
-19.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 ₺49.19
$1.43 MX$24.57
-29.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 ₺18.29
$0.82 MX$14.20
-53.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.39 ₺165
$3.19 MX$54.9
6.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29 ₺160
$6.79 MX$117
-51.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Manavgat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 ₺50.2
$1.68 MX$28.85
-38.69%
White Bread (500g)
$0.92 ₺44.85
$2.20 MX$37.83
-58.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 ₺75.6
$1.71 MX$29.41
-9.36%
Eggs
$1.63 ₺79.5
$2.74 MX$47.20
-40.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.81 ₺625
$9.58 MX$165
33.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.87 ₺189
$9.01 MX$155
-57.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.90 ₺921
$12.81 MX$221
47.54%
Apples (1kg)
$0.66 ₺32.20
$2.89 MX$49.74
-77.16%
Banana (1kg)
$0.85 ₺41.32
$1.50 MX$25.78
-43.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.53 ₺25.88
$2.15 MX$36.98
-75.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.50 ₺24.52
$2.26 MX$38.91
-77.88%
Potato (1kg)
$0.50 ₺24.44
$1.98 MX$34.10
-74.75%
Onion (1kg)
$0.28 ₺13.51
$1.99 MX$34.26
-85.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.46 ₺22.60
$1.23 MX$21.25
-62.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ₺23.19
$1.20 MX$20.60
-60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.05 ₺100
$4.55 MX$78.3
-54.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.03 ₺343
$10.37 MX$179
-32.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.43 ₺118
$1.62 MX$27.88
50.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 ₺142
$2.88 MX$49.60
1.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Manavgat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.07 ₺52.0
$0.60 MX$10.34
78.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$33.22 ₺1,620
$28.80 MX$496
15.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.75 ₺85.4
$5.39 MX$92.8
-67.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.05 ₺51.2
$3.73 MX$64.2
-71.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.33 ₺406
$5.77 MX$99.3
44.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 ₺58.6
$1.54 MX$26.45
-22.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.6K ₺2.4M
$22.5K MX$388.3K
115.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.4K ₺1.8M
$26.1K MX$448.7K
43.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manavgat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$72.3 ₺3,523
$91.4 MX$1,573
-20.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.84 ₺480
$25.20 MX$434
-60.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.16 ₺788
$31.24 MX$538
-48.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Manavgat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.90 ₺1,994
$67.2 MX$1,157
-39.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.71 ₺912
$29.11 MX$501
-35.73%
Cinema Ticket
$8.40 ₺410
$4.86 MX$83.7
72.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Manavgat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$510 ₺24.9K
$224 MX$3,851
128.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,936 ₺484.5K
$4,229 MX$72.8K
134.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Manavgat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.1 ₺2,441
$47.10 MX$811
6.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.50 ₺1,341
$44.29 MX$763
-37.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.0 ₺4,537
$80.1 MX$1,379
16.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.6 ₺4,468
$92.7 MX$1,596
-1.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Manavgat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 ₺23.5K
$1,063 MX$18.3K
-54.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$380 ₺18.5K
$390 MX$6,719
-2.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$859 ₺41.9K
$2,149 MX$37.0K
-60.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$552 ₺26.9K
$1,272 MX$21.9K
-56.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,052 ₺51.3K
$4,001 MX$68.9K
-73.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,048 ₺51.1K
$6,502 MX$112.0K
-83.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Manavgat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$670 ₺32.7K
$758 MX$13.1K
-11.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
30
11.45
162.01%

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

Last update for Manavgat: September 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $482 in Manavgat and $1,063 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 13% 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: $40.00 in Manavgat vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $201 vs $276 per month, with Manavgat 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
Manavgat vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Manavgat and in Playa del Carmen?
Manavgat and Playa del Carmen differ by about 23% in total monthly costs ($1,033 vs $1,266 including rent). Manavgat is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 13% lower in Playa del Carmen. 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 Manavgat and in Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $482 in Manavgat versus $1,063 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 Manavgat – a meal for two runs $40.00 versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Manavgat or Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,033 per month in Manavgat versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen – a 23% 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 $1,033 in Manavgat versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Manavgat but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Manavgat the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Manavgat 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.
Is Manavgat or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Manavgat 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.
Where should expats move: Manavgat or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Manavgat gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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