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: $1,034 in Manavgat versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,609 in Manavgat versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,184 in Manavgat versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Manavgat costs roughly 19% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Manavgat 23% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Manavgat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.97 β‚Ί323
$11.87 MX$204
-41.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.08 β‚Ί1,253
$42.90 MX$736
-36.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.17 β‚Ί193
$10.65 MX$183
-60.85%
Cappuccino
$2.73 β‚Ί126
$3.45 MX$59.2
-20.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 β‚Ί79.6
$1.50 MX$25.81
14.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 β‚Ί13.01
$0.95 MX$16.28
-70.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.77 β‚Ί128
$3.03 MX$51.9
-8.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 β‚Ί122
$4.61 MX$79.1
-42.52%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Manavgat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.84 β‚Ί38.82
$1.38 MX$23.61
-39.13%
White Bread (500g)
$1.01 β‚Ί46.59
$1.85 MX$31.70
-45.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 β‚Ί51.3
$1.61 MX$27.65
-31.06%
Eggs
$1.77 β‚Ί81.9
$2.59 MX$44.51
-31.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.11 β‚Ί375
$8.26 MX$142
-1.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.50 β‚Ί254
$8.37 MX$144
-34.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.38 β‚Ί897
$10.66 MX$183
81.80%
Apples (1kg)
$0.66 β‚Ί30.69
$2.63 MX$45.12
-74.90%
Banana (1kg)
$2.16 β‚Ί99.9
$1.49 MX$25.53
44.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.65 β‚Ί30.28
$1.92 MX$32.94
-66.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.10 β‚Ί50.9
$2.09 MX$35.81
-47.37%
Potato (1kg)
$0.60 β‚Ί27.68
$1.86 MX$31.88
-67.74%
Onion (1kg)
$0.26 β‚Ί11.94
$2.26 MX$38.81
-88.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.33 β‚Ί15.26
$1.06 MX$18.23
-68.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.34 β‚Ί15.95
$1.09 MX$18.67
-68.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.05 β‚Ί95.0
$4.15 MX$71.2
-50.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.93 β‚Ί320
$10.39 MX$178
-33.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 β‚Ί77.9
$1.72 MX$29.59
-2.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 β‚Ί96.1
$2.61 MX$44.85
-20.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Manavgat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.67 β‚Ί31.07
$0.54 MX$9.30
24.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.15 β‚Ί1,395
$26.94 MX$462
11.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.10 β‚Ί51.0
$3.13 MX$53.7
-64.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.11 β‚Ί51.3
$2.51 MX$43.09
-55.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 β‚Ί354
$3.15 MX$54.1
143.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 β‚Ί55.9
$1.27 MX$21.88
-4.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.4K β‚Ί1.9M
$30.4K MX$521.3K
36.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.7K β‚Ί2.0M
$23.6K MX$404.5K
81.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manavgat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$48.16 β‚Ί2,228
$83.0 MX$1,425
-41.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.09 β‚Ί374
$22.71 MX$390
-64.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.27 β‚Ί707
$29.46 MX$506
-48.17%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Manavgat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.65 β‚Ί1,973
$51.0 MX$875
-16.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.39 β‚Ί944
$18.33 MX$315
11.24%
Cinema Ticket
$6.41 β‚Ί296
$4.93 MX$84.5
30.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Manavgat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$599 β‚Ί27.7K
$197 MX$3,386
203.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,919 β‚Ί412.6K
$5,280 MX$90.6K
68.93%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Manavgat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.28 β‚Ί2,234
$36.90 MX$633
30.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.03 β‚Ί1,251
$39.89 MX$685
-32.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 β‚Ί5,074
$80.0 MX$1,373
37.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 β‚Ί5,119
$89.5 MX$1,536
23.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Manavgat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$519 β‚Ί24.0K
$956 MX$16.4K
-45.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$398 β‚Ί18.4K
$477 MX$8,189
-16.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$901 β‚Ί41.7K
$1,646 MX$28.3K
-45.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$723 β‚Ί33.5K
$1,225 MX$21.0K
-40.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,144 β‚Ί52.9K
$3,918 MX$67.2K
-70.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$919 β‚Ί42.5K
$6,459 MX$110.9K
-85.77%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Manavgat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$706 β‚Ί32.6K
$667 MX$11.4K
5.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20
11.42
75.13%

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

Last update for Manavgat: June 8, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $519 in Manavgat and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manavgat pays 6% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $27.00 in Manavgat vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $199 vs $250 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 Playa del Carmen?
Manavgat and Playa del Carmen differ by about 23% in total monthly costs ($1,034 vs $1,271 including rent). Manavgat is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Manavgat or Playa del Carmen?
Manavgat pays 6% 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 do apartment prices compare in Manavgat and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $519 in Manavgat versus $956 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 $27.00 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: Manavgat or Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,034 per month in Manavgat versus $1,271 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 $1,034 in Manavgat versus $1,271 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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