😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,265 in Marigot versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,962 in Marigot versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,659 in Marigot versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Marigot is roughly 152% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Marigot is 144% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Marigot
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.98ANG 41.02
$11.73MX$203
95.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$41.62MX$720
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.47ANG 20.48
$10.64MX$184
7.80%
Cappuccino
$3.45ANG 6.16
$3.52MX$60.9
-1.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33ANG 4.17
$1.51MX$26.12
54.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71ANG 3.04
$0.97MX$16.84
76.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24ANG 4.01
$2.95MX$51.0
-24.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26ANG 4.03
$4.45MX$77.0
-49.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Marigot
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.80ANG 5.00
$1.38MX$23.93
102.90%
White Bread(500g)
$2.31ANG 4.12
$1.89MX$32.72
22.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.64MX$28.32
-
Eggs
$4.66ANG 8.33
$2.51MX$43.34
85.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.76ANG 8.49
$8.34MX$144
-42.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.73ANG 8.43
$8.34MX$144
-43.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.32ANG 27.34
$10.73MX$186
42.78%
Apples(1kg)
$4.26ANG 7.61
$2.60MX$45.04
63.85%
Banana(1kg)
$2.88ANG 5.13
$1.46MX$25.20
97.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.10ANG 5.53
$1.90MX$32.87
63.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.70ANG 6.61
$2.08MX$35.91
77.88%
Potato(1kg)
$2.70ANG 4.82
$1.78MX$30.71
51.69%
Onion(1kg)
$2.82ANG 5.04
$2.19MX$37.80
28.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.56ANG 6.35
$1.04MX$17.99
242.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.65ANG 2.94
$1.08MX$18.62
52.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.04ANG 21.49
$4.08MX$70.6
195.10%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.32MX$178
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.17ANG 3.88
$1.71MX$29.61
26.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32ANG 4.15
$2.58MX$44.54
-10.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Marigot
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.24ANG 4.00
$0.51MX$8.81
339.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$91.8ANG 164
$26.46MX$458
246.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.67ANG 10.13
$3.26MX$56.4
73.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$5.31ANG 9.48
$2.49MX$43.09
113.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.75ANG 10.26
$3.25MX$56.2
76.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.42ANG 2.53
$1.31MX$22.61
8.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2KANG 32.5K
$30.3KMX$523.7K
-39.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.0KANG 26.8K
$23.4KMX$405.3K
-35.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Marigot
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$82.9MX$1,433
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$22.22MX$384
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.36ANG 82.8
$29.34MX$507
58.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Marigot
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$69.2ANG 124
$51.6MX$893
34.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.94ANG 40.95
$18.32MX$317
25.22%
Cinema Ticket
$17.57ANG 31.36
$5.07MX$87.6
246.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Marigot
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$699ANG 1,247
$201MX$3,473
248.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,212MX$90.1K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Marigot
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.6ANG 126
$36.92MX$639
91.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.45ANG 82.9
$39.79MX$688
16.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.3ANG 147
$78.5MX$1,357
4.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.3ANG 125
$87.1MX$1,506
-19.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Marigot
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,385ANG 4,258
$973MX$16.8K
145.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,298ANG 4,102
$468MX$8,090
391.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$6,520ANG 11.6K
$1,641MX$28.4K
297.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$6,484ANG 11.6K
$1,221MX$21.1K
431.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,946MX$68.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,498MX$112.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Marigot
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,047ANG 5,438
$664MX$11.5K
358.90%
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: May 30, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,385 in Marigot and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Marigot pays 359% 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 152% 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 Playa del Carmen?
Marigot pays 359% more on average, 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,385 in Marigot versus $973 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 Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 15% 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 $3,265 per month in Marigot versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – a 152% 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 Playa del Carmen?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,265 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 $1,297 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 152% less than in Marigot. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.