😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,493 in Maple Ridge versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,741 in Maple Ridge versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,989 in Maple Ridge versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Maple Ridge is roughly 99% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Maple Ridge is 87% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maple Ridge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.44CA$25.85
$11.99MX$210
53.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.1CA$92.6
$41.78MX$731
58.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.77CA$16.50
$10.75MX$188
9.49%
Cappuccino
$3.27CA$4.58
$3.50MX$61.1
-6.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81CA$2.54
$1.45MX$25.33
24.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51CA$2.12
$0.88MX$15.47
71.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.65CA$7.93
$2.95MX$51.6
91.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.44CA$6.23
$4.51MX$78.9
-1.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maple Ridge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.89CA$4.05
$1.43MX$25.04
102.10%
White Bread(500g)
$2.24CA$3.13
$1.84MX$32.13
21.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.74CA$5.25
$1.57MX$27.42
138.22%
Eggs
$3.17CA$4.44
$2.51MX$43.92
26.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.90CA$18.09
$8.28MX$145
55.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.04CA$16.88
$8.43MX$147
42.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.27CA$20.01
$10.68MX$187
33.61%
Apples(1kg)
$2.81CA$3.94
$2.61MX$45.62
7.66%
Banana(1kg)
$2.06CA$2.89
$1.44MX$25.15
43.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.95CA$5.54
$1.96MX$34.31
101.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.44CA$6.23
$2.09MX$36.62
112.44%
Potato(1kg)
$3.54CA$4.96
$1.85MX$32.37
91.35%
Onion(1kg)
$2.74CA$3.84
$2.17MX$37.90
26.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.66CA$3.72
$1.03MX$18.04
158.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.27CA$3.19
$1.07MX$18.78
112.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.64CA$20.53
$4.10MX$71.7
257.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.96CA$18.17
$10.17MX$178
27.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.75CA$5.26
$1.68MX$29.29
123.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.16CA$5.83
$2.53MX$44.17
64.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Maple Ridge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.17CA$3.05
$0.51MX$8.90
325.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$101CA$141
$26.04MX$455
286.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.12CA$7.17
$3.23MX$56.5
58.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.47CA$2.07
$2.41MX$42.06
-39.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.82CA$30.59
$3.23MX$56.5
575.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29CA$1.81
$1.32MX$23.10
-2.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4KCA$35.6K
$29.7KMX$519.2K
-14.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2KCA$28.3K
$23.7KMX$413.7K
-14.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maple Ridge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$250CA$350
$82.0MX$1,434
204.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.3CA$84.5
$22.95MX$401
162.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$122CA$171
$30.11MX$527
305.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maple Ridge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.72CA$48.67
$52.0MX$909
-33.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.53MX$324
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.07CA$15.52
$4.98MX$87.0
122.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maple Ridge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$597CA$838
$197MX$3,452
202.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9KCA$16.6K
$5,336MX$93.3K
122.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maple Ridge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.6CA$77.9
$35.60MX$622
56.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.36CA$63.6
$40.33MX$705
12.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104CA$146
$78.8MX$1,377
31.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142CA$199
$88.9MX$1,555
59.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maple Ridge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,385CA$1,942
$947MX$16.6K
46.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,090CA$1,528
$474MX$8,288
129.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,967CA$2,757
$1,644MX$28.7K
19.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,997CA$2,800
$1,211MX$21.2K
64.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,705CA$7,998
$4,056MX$70.9K
40.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,525CA$4,943
$6,470MX$113.1K
-45.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maple Ridge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,048CA$4,273
$654MX$11.4K
366.13%
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,385 in Maple Ridge and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Maple Ridge pays 366% 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 99% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Maple Ridge or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 366% higher in Maple Ridge, 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: $1,385 in Maple Ridge versus $947 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 in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 58% 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 in 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 living in Maple Ridge or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,493 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 99% 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