πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Manavgat versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,609 in Manavgat versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,184 in Manavgat versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.
πLiving in Manavgat costs roughly 19% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Manavgat23% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Manavgat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.97βΊ323
$11.87MX$204
-41.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.08βΊ1,253
$42.90MX$736
-36.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.17βΊ193
$10.65MX$183
-60.85%
Cappuccino
$2.73βΊ126
$3.45MX$59.2
-20.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72βΊ79.6
$1.50MX$25.81
14.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28βΊ13.01
$0.95MX$16.28
-70.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.77βΊ128
$3.03MX$51.9
-8.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65βΊ122
$4.61MX$79.1
-42.52%
π Groceries & Markets
Manavgat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.84βΊ38.82
$1.38MX$23.61
-39.13%
White Bread(500g)
$1.01βΊ46.59
$1.85MX$31.70
-45.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.11βΊ51.3
$1.61MX$27.65
-31.06%
Eggs
$1.77βΊ81.9
$2.59MX$44.51
-31.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.11βΊ375
$8.26MX$142
-1.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.50βΊ254
$8.37MX$144
-34.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.38βΊ897
$10.66MX$183
81.80%
Apples(1kg)
$0.66βΊ30.69
$2.63MX$45.12
-74.90%
Banana(1kg)
$2.16βΊ99.9
$1.49MX$25.53
44.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.65βΊ30.28
$1.92MX$32.94
-66.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.10βΊ50.9
$2.09MX$35.81
-47.37%
Potato(1kg)
$0.60βΊ27.68
$1.86MX$31.88
-67.74%
Onion(1kg)
$0.26βΊ11.94
$2.26MX$38.81
-88.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.33βΊ15.26
$1.06MX$18.23
-68.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.34βΊ15.95
$1.09MX$18.67
-68.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.05βΊ95.0
$4.15MX$71.2
-50.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.93βΊ320
$10.39MX$178
-33.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68βΊ77.9
$1.72MX$29.59
-2.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08βΊ96.1
$2.61MX$44.85
-20.31%
π Getting Around
Manavgat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.67βΊ31.07
$0.54MX$9.30
24.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.15βΊ1,395
$26.94MX$462
11.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.10βΊ51.0
$3.13MX$53.7
-64.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.11βΊ51.3
$2.51MX$43.09
-55.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66βΊ354
$3.15MX$54.1
143.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21βΊ55.9
$1.27MX$21.88
-4.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.4KβΊ1.9M
$30.4KMX$521.3K
36.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.7KβΊ2.0M
$23.6KMX$404.5K
81.07%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manavgat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$48.16βΊ2,228
$83.0MX$1,425
-41.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.09βΊ374
$22.71MX$390
-64.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.27βΊ707
$29.46MX$506
-48.17%
π Sport & Entertainment
Manavgat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.65βΊ1,973
$51.0MX$875
-16.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.39βΊ944
$18.33MX$315
11.24%
Cinema Ticket
$6.41βΊ296
$4.93MX$84.5
30.02%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Manavgat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$599βΊ27.7K
$197MX$3,386
203.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,919βΊ412.6K
$5,280MX$90.6K
68.93%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Manavgat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.28βΊ2,234
$36.90MX$633
30.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.03βΊ1,251
$39.89MX$685
-32.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110βΊ5,074
$80.0MX$1,373
37.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111βΊ5,119
$89.5MX$1,536
23.66%
π Accommodation & Living
Manavgat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$519βΊ24.0K
$956MX$16.4K
-45.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$398βΊ18.4K
$477MX$8,189
-16.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$901βΊ41.7K
$1,646MX$28.3K
-45.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723βΊ33.5K
$1,225MX$21.0K
-40.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,144βΊ52.9K
$3,918MX$67.2K
-70.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$919βΊ42.5K
$6,459MX$110.9K
-85.77%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Manavgat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$706βΊ32.6K
$667MX$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 β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Manavgat: June 8, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π 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.
π°Manavgat pays 6% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
πDining 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 β 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 β 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 β 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 β 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 β 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.