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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,428 per month in Mandurah vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,553 per month in Mandurah vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,679 per month in Mandurah vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Mandurah costs about 92% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Mandurah sits 77% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mandurah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.08 A$29.73
$11.60 MX$200
81.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.6 A$122
$47.11 MX$812
83.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.83 A$15.27
$11.88 MX$205
-8.84%
Cappuccino
$4.54 A$6.41
$3.98 MX$68.6
14.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 A$4.03
$1.43 MX$24.60
100.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 A$3.30
$0.82 MX$14.22
185.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.60 A$9.31
$3.19 MX$55.0
106.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.33 A$11.75
$6.79 MX$117
22.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mandurah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 A$2.45
$1.68 MX$28.89
3.57%
White Bread (500g)
$2.55 A$3.60
$2.20 MX$37.88
15.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.07 A$2.91
$1.71 MX$29.45
21.05%
Eggs
$5.15 A$7.26
$2.74 MX$47.26
87.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.40 A$13.26
$9.58 MX$165
-1.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.41 A$13.27
$9.01 MX$155
4.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.20 A$20.02
$12.81 MX$221
10.85%
Apples (1kg)
$3.53 A$4.98
$2.89 MX$49.81
22.15%
Banana (1kg)
$3.16 A$4.46
$1.50 MX$25.81
110.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.39 A$4.78
$2.15 MX$37.03
57.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.03 A$7.09
$2.26 MX$38.96
122.57%
Potato (1kg)
$1.64 A$2.31
$1.98 MX$34.15
-17.17%
Onion (1kg)
$0.90 A$1.27
$1.99 MX$34.30
-54.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.13 A$3.00
$1.23 MX$21.28
73.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 A$1.87
$1.20 MX$20.63
10.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$41.98 A$59.2
$4.55 MX$78.5
822.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.87 A$18.16
$10.37 MX$179
24.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.37 A$6.16
$1.62 MX$27.91
169.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 A$5.17
$2.88 MX$49.67
27.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Mandurah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.67 A$5.17
$0.60 MX$10.35
511.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$93.9 A$132
$28.80 MX$497
226.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.58 A$5.05
$5.39 MX$92.9
-33.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 A$2.08
$3.73 MX$64.3
-60.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$42.09 A$59.4
$5.77 MX$99.5
629.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 A$1.90
$1.54 MX$26.48
-12.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K A$39.2K
$22.5K MX$388.8K
23.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.7K A$43.2K
$26.1K MX$449.3K
17.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mandurah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$205 A$290
$91.4 MX$1,576
124.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.78 A$30.71
$25.20 MX$435
-13.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.1 A$87.6
$31.24 MX$539
98.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mandurah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.55 A$48.73
$67.2 MX$1,159
-48.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.54 A$14.86
$29.11 MX$502
-63.79%
Cinema Ticket
$8.72 A$12.30
$4.86 MX$83.8
79.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mandurah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$396 A$559
$224 MX$3,856
77.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.8K A$33.6K
$4,229 MX$72.9K
462.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mandurah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.2 A$110
$47.10 MX$812
65.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.64 A$65.8
$44.29 MX$764
5.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 A$170
$80.1 MX$1,381
50.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.2 A$110
$92.7 MX$1,598
-15.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mandurah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,406 A$1,982
$1,063 MX$18.3K
32.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,160 A$1,636
$390 MX$6,728
197.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,513 A$3,545
$2,149 MX$37.1K
16.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,802 A$2,542
$1,272 MX$21.9K
41.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,001 MX$69.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,502 MX$112.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mandurah
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,330 A$6,107
$758 MX$13.1K
471.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.7
11.45
-50.22%

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

Last update for Mandurah: September 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,406 in Mandurah versus $1,063 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 471% 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 $87.0 in Mandurah versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $351 vs $276 – 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 92% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,642 per month in Mandurah and $1,899 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $396 per month in Mandurah and $224 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 27% 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 in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,266, than in Mandurah at $2,428. 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 $1,266 versus $2,428 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 to 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.

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