🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,010 in Manavgat versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,570 in Manavgat versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,130 in Manavgat versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Manavgat costs roughly 20% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Manavgat24% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Manavgat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.91₺328
$11.72MX$203
-41.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.36₺1,300
$41.89MX$726
-34.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.01₺191
$10.51MX$182
-61.85%
Cappuccino
$2.66₺126
$3.59MX$62.1
-25.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75₺83.2
$1.51MX$26.13
15.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26₺12.33
$0.92MX$15.86
-71.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.75₺131
$2.96MX$51.2
-7.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64₺126
$4.41MX$76.4
-40.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Manavgat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.83₺39.40
$1.40MX$24.19
-40.71%
White Bread(500g)
$0.92₺43.92
$1.88MX$32.65
-51.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.12₺53.2
$1.56MX$27.01
-28.21%
Eggs
$1.72₺81.9
$2.61MX$45.20
-34.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.09₺385
$8.32MX$144
-2.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.33₺253
$8.35MX$145
-36.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.51₺927
$10.86MX$188
79.65%
Apples(1kg)
$0.66₺31.53
$2.71MX$47.00
-75.65%
Banana(1kg)
$2.15₺102
$1.51MX$26.08
42.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.70₺33.49
$1.87MX$32.46
-62.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.16₺54.9
$2.19MX$37.94
-47.03%
Potato(1kg)
$0.57₺27.03
$1.86MX$32.18
-69.35%
Onion(1kg)
$0.28₺13.41
$2.23MX$38.64
-87.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.32₺15.45
$1.07MX$18.51
-70.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31₺14.91
$1.09MX$18.82
-71.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.06₺97.8
$4.19MX$72.5
-50.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.91₺329
$10.43MX$181
-33.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70₺80.7
$1.66MX$28.72
2.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09₺99.3
$2.61MX$45.26
-19.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Manavgat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.63₺29.94
$0.54MX$9.39
16.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.53₺1,451
$26.16MX$453
16.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.10₺52.3
$3.08MX$53.3
-64.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.08₺51.2
$2.40MX$41.66
-55.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.68₺365
$3.13MX$54.2
145.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21₺57.5
$1.31MX$22.72
-7.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.3K₺2.0M
$29.8KMX$516.4K
38.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.2K₺2.0M
$23.3KMX$404.1K
80.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manavgat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$48.91₺2,325
$81.3MX$1,408
-39.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.09₺384
$22.56MX$391
-64.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.26₺725
$30.05MX$521
-49.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Manavgat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.71₺2,077
$52.9MX$917
-17.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.11₺956
$18.39MX$319
9.35%
Cinema Ticket
$6.46₺307
$4.92MX$85.2
31.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Manavgat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$622₺29.6K
$201MX$3,479
209.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,757₺416.2K
$5,175MX$89.7K
69.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Manavgat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.53₺2,259
$35.92MX$622
32.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.63₺1,266
$40.13MX$695
-33.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107₺5,083
$79.7MX$1,381
34.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109₺5,183
$86.5MX$1,498
26.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Manavgat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$518₺24.6K
$978MX$16.9K
-47.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$388₺18.5K
$470MX$8,152
-17.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$892₺42.4K
$1,651MX$28.6K
-45.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$704₺33.5K
$1,203MX$20.9K
-41.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,085₺51.6K
$3,953MX$68.5K
-72.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$898₺42.7K
$6,607MX$114.5K
-86.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Manavgat
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$710₺33.7K
$677MX$11.7K
4.88%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $518 in Manavgat and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Manavgat pays 5% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $197 vs $252 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 25% in total monthly costs ($1,010 vs $1,260 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?
Average pay runs 5% higher in Manavgat, 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $518 in Manavgat versus $978 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 $42.00 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 $1,010 per month in Manavgat versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – a 25% 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 $1,010 in Manavgat versus $1,260 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 25% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.