😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,334 in Marigot versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,070 in Marigot versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,806 in Marigot versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Marigot is roughly 165% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Marigot is 150% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Marigot
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.94ANG 40.94
$11.99MX$210
91.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$41.78MX$733
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.49ANG 20.51
$10.75MX$189
6.88%
Cappuccino
$3.43ANG 6.12
$3.50MX$61.3
-2.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35ANG 4.20
$1.45MX$25.41
62.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70ANG 3.03
$0.88MX$15.52
93.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.25ANG 4.01
$2.95MX$51.7
-23.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26ANG 4.04
$4.51MX$79.1
-49.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Marigot
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.97ANG 5.30
$1.43MX$25.12
107.69%
White Bread(500g)
$2.22ANG 3.95
$1.84MX$32.23
20.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.57MX$27.51
-
Eggs
$4.74ANG 8.45
$2.51MX$44.06
88.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.61ANG 8.23
$8.28MX$145
-44.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.68ANG 8.36
$8.43MX$148
-44.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.90ANG 26.59
$10.68MX$187
39.51%
Apples(1kg)
$4.15ANG 7.42
$2.61MX$45.76
59.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.92ANG 5.22
$1.44MX$25.22
102.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.02ANG 5.39
$1.96MX$34.41
54.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.75ANG 6.69
$2.09MX$36.74
79.43%
Potato(1kg)
$2.73ANG 4.87
$1.85MX$32.47
47.57%
Onion(1kg)
$2.87ANG 5.12
$2.17MX$38.02
32.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.41ANG 6.08
$1.03MX$18.09
231.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.57ANG 2.81
$1.07MX$18.84
46.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.98ANG 21.38
$4.10MX$72.0
192.20%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.17MX$178
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.23ANG 3.99
$1.68MX$29.38
32.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24ANG 4.01
$2.53MX$44.31
-11.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Marigot
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.24ANG 4.00
$0.51MX$8.93
339.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$92.3ANG 165
$26.04MX$457
254.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.68ANG 10.15
$3.23MX$56.7
75.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$5.24ANG 9.36
$2.41MX$42.19
117.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.87ANG 10.48
$3.23MX$56.6
81.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37ANG 2.44
$1.32MX$23.17
3.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5KANG 33.0K
$29.7KMX$520.9K
-37.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.7KANG 26.3K
$23.7KMX$415.0K
-37.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Marigot
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$82.0MX$1,439
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$22.95MX$403
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.60ANG 81.4
$30.11MX$528
51.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Marigot
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$70.3ANG 125
$52.0MX$912
35.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.30ANG 41.60
$18.53MX$325
25.74%
Cinema Ticket
$17.44ANG 31.13
$4.98MX$87.3
250.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Marigot
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$702ANG 1,253
$197MX$3,463
255.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,336MX$93.6K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Marigot
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.0ANG 123
$35.60MX$624
93.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.23ANG 82.5
$40.33MX$707
14.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1ANG 143
$78.8MX$1,381
1.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.0ANG 123
$88.9MX$1,560
-22.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Marigot
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,299ANG 4,104
$947MX$16.6K
142.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,314ANG 4,131
$474MX$8,314
388.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$6,643ANG 11.9K
$1,644MX$28.8K
304.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$6,481ANG 11.6K
$1,211MX$21.2K
435.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,056MX$71.1K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,470MX$113.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Marigot
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,952ANG 5,270
$654MX$11.5K
351.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
11.42
-56.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Marigot: July 12, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,299 in Marigot and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Marigot pays 352% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
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
Marigot vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Marigot or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 165% lower than in Marigot. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Marigot or in Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 352% higher in Marigot, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Marigot compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,299 in Marigot versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Marigot or in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Marigot. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Marigot compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $3,334 per month in Marigot versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – a 165% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Marigot or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,334 in Marigot, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Marigot. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Marigot or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,256 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 165% less than in Marigot. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.