😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,454 in Maple Ridge versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,661 in Maple Ridge versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,868 in Maple Ridge versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Maple Ridge is roughly 89% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Maple Ridge is 83% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maple Ridge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.25CA$25.27
$11.73MX$203
55.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.3CA$91.8
$41.62MX$720
59.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.78CA$16.31
$10.64MX$184
10.71%
Cappuccino
$3.21CA$4.45
$3.52MX$60.9
-8.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82CA$2.52
$1.51MX$26.12
20.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49CA$2.06
$0.97MX$16.84
53.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.40CA$7.48
$2.95MX$51.0
83.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.35CA$6.03
$4.45MX$77.0
-2.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maple Ridge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.91CA$4.03
$1.38MX$23.93
110.87%
White Bread(500g)
$2.19CA$3.04
$1.89MX$32.72
15.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.63CA$5.03
$1.64MX$28.32
121.34%
Eggs
$3.17CA$4.39
$2.51MX$43.34
26.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.83CA$17.77
$8.34MX$144
53.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.30CA$17.03
$8.34MX$144
47.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.05CA$19.46
$10.73MX$186
30.94%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86CA$3.96
$2.60MX$45.04
10.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.11CA$2.93
$1.46MX$25.20
44.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.02CA$5.57
$1.90MX$32.87
111.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.46CA$6.17
$2.08MX$35.91
114.42%
Potato(1kg)
$3.60CA$4.99
$1.78MX$30.71
102.25%
Onion(1kg)
$2.65CA$3.68
$2.19MX$37.80
21.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.75CA$3.81
$1.04MX$17.99
164.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.17CA$3.00
$1.08MX$18.62
100.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.72CA$20.38
$4.08MX$70.6
260.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.92CA$17.89
$10.32MX$178
25.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.75CA$5.20
$1.71MX$29.61
119.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.20CA$5.81
$2.58MX$44.54
62.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Maple Ridge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.26CA$3.13
$0.51MX$8.81
343.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$101CA$140
$26.46MX$458
281.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.14CA$7.11
$3.26MX$56.4
57.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.45CA$2.01
$2.49MX$43.09
-41.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.06CA$30.54
$3.25MX$56.2
578.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29CA$1.78
$1.31MX$22.61
-1.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2KCA$34.9K
$30.3KMX$523.7K
-16.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3KCA$28.1K
$23.4KMX$405.3K
-13.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maple Ridge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$249CA$344
$82.9MX$1,433
199.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.8CA$82.8
$22.22MX$384
169.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$120CA$167
$29.34MX$507
310.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maple Ridge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.83CA$48.22
$51.6MX$893
-32.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.32MX$317
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.02CA$15.26
$5.07MX$87.6
117.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maple Ridge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$595CA$824
$201MX$3,473
196.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.8KCA$16.3K
$5,212MX$90.1K
125.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maple Ridge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2CA$77.7
$36.92MX$639
52.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.61CA$64.5
$39.79MX$688
17.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104CA$144
$78.5MX$1,357
32.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141CA$196
$87.1MX$1,506
62.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maple Ridge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,404CA$1,944
$973MX$16.8K
44.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,063CA$1,471
$468MX$8,090
127.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,911CA$2,646
$1,641MX$28.4K
16.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,040CA$2,825
$1,221MX$21.1K
67.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,744CA$7,953
$3,946MX$68.3K
45.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,680CA$5,095
$6,498MX$112.4K
-43.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maple Ridge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,110CA$4,306
$664MX$11.5K
368.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.96
11.42
-47.81%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Maple Ridge: May 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,404 in Maple Ridge and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Maple Ridge pays 368% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $66.0 in Maple Ridge vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $392 vs $249 per month, with Playa del Carmen 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
Maple Ridge vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Maple Ridge?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 89% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Maple Ridge or Playa del Carmen?
Maple Ridge pays 368% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Maple Ridge and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,404 in Maple Ridge versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Maple Ridge and Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 57% higher in Maple Ridge. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Maple Ridge or Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $66.0 in Maple Ridge. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Maple Ridge or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,454 in Maple Ridge, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Maple Ridge. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Maple Ridge or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Maple Ridge, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Maple Ridge or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Maple Ridge 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 89% less than in Maple Ridge. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Maple Ridge vs other spots: cost of living compared