😐A single person spends $2,104 per month in Mandurah vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,097 per month in Mandurah vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,089 per month in Mandurah vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Mandurah costs about 62% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Mandurah sits 57% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mandurah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.52A$23.02
$11.73MX$203
40.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.2A$108
$41.62MX$720
85.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59A$14.75
$10.64MX$184
-0.47%
Cappuccino
$3.78A$5.27
$3.52MX$60.9
7.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48A$3.46
$1.51MX$26.12
64.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95A$2.71
$0.97MX$16.84
101.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.82A$8.12
$2.95MX$51.0
97.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.64A$9.26
$4.45MX$77.0
49.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mandurah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.39A$1.94
$1.38MX$23.93
0.72%
White Bread(500g)
$2.19A$3.05
$1.89MX$32.72
15.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.93A$2.69
$1.64MX$28.32
17.68%
Eggs
$4.53A$6.31
$2.51MX$43.34
80.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.37A$11.66
$8.34MX$144
0.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.31A$11.58
$8.34MX$144
-0.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.18A$18.37
$10.73MX$186
22.83%
Apples(1kg)
$3.26A$4.55
$2.60MX$45.04
25.38%
Banana(1kg)
$2.85A$3.97
$1.46MX$25.20
95.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.96A$4.13
$1.90MX$32.87
55.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.66A$6.50
$2.08MX$35.91
124.04%
Potato(1kg)
$1.54A$2.15
$1.78MX$30.71
-13.48%
Onion(1kg)
$0.81A$1.13
$2.19MX$37.80
-63.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.86A$2.59
$1.04MX$17.99
78.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.49A$2.08
$1.08MX$18.62
37.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$32.30A$45.01
$4.08MX$70.6
691.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.73A$17.74
$10.32MX$178
23.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.95A$5.50
$1.71MX$29.61
130.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25A$5.92
$2.58MX$44.54
64.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Mandurah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.34A$4.66
$0.51MX$8.81
554.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$84.9A$118
$26.46MX$458
220.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.94A$5.50
$3.26MX$56.4
20.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.18A$3.04
$2.49MX$43.09
-12.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$49.83A$69.5
$3.25MX$56.2
1433.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17A$1.63
$1.31MX$22.61
-10.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5KA$39.7K
$30.3KMX$523.7K
-5.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7KA$34.5K
$23.4KMX$405.3K
5.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mandurah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$154A$215
$82.9MX$1,433
85.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.53A$23.03
$22.22MX$384
-25.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.8A$76.4
$29.34MX$507
86.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mandurah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.96A$44.53
$51.6MX$893
-38.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.57A$13.33
$18.32MX$317
-47.76%
Cinema Ticket
$7.93A$11.05
$5.07MX$87.6
56.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mandurah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,768A$2,464
$201MX$3,473
780.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.8KA$16.5K
$5,212MX$90.1K
127.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mandurah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.1A$99.1
$36.92MX$639
92.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.35A$57.6
$39.79MX$688
3.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104A$145
$78.5MX$1,357
32.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.8A$101
$87.1MX$1,506
-16.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mandurah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,279A$1,783
$973MX$16.8K
31.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027A$1,431
$468MX$8,090
119.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,317A$3,229
$1,641MX$28.4K
41.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,639A$2,284
$1,221MX$21.1K
34.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,946MX$68.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,498MX$112.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mandurah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,298A$5,989
$664MX$11.5K
547.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.8
11.42
-49.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mandurah: June 1, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,279 in Mandurah versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 547% higher in Mandurah, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Mandurah versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $322 vs $249 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Mandurah vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mandurah or Playa del Carmen?
Mandurah costs about 62% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Mandurah vs Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,157 per month in Mandurah and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Mandurah or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Mandurah and Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $1,768 per month in Mandurah and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Mandurah or Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 29% more in Mandurah, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Mandurah or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Mandurah at $2,104. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mandurah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mandurah or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,297 versus $2,104 in Mandurah. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Mandurah compared to Playa del Carmen?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Mandurah or Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mandurah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.