🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $783 in Marilia versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,260 in Marilia versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,736 in Marilia versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Marilia costs roughly 39% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Marilia41% lower, Playa del Carmen4% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Marilia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.50R$27.42
$11.94MX$209
-53.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.72R$133
$42.75MX$748
-37.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.11R$30.51
$10.59MX$185
-42.30%
Cappuccino
$1.80R$8.99
$3.62MX$63.4
-50.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09R$5.42
$1.47MX$25.69
-25.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66R$3.28
$0.94MX$16.51
-29.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.85R$9.23
$3.09MX$54.1
-40.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62R$13.09
$4.46MX$78.0
-41.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Marilia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06R$5.29
$1.43MX$24.94
-25.87%
White Bread(500g)
$2.02R$10.06
$1.88MX$32.97
7.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.98R$4.90
$1.63MX$28.50
-39.88%
Eggs
$1.83R$9.12
$2.64MX$46.26
-30.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.81R$43.95
$8.21MX$144
7.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.76R$18.78
$8.29MX$145
-54.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.17R$30.76
$11.10MX$194
-44.41%
Apples(1kg)
$2.20R$10.97
$2.65MX$46.40
-16.98%
Banana(1kg)
$0.92R$4.59
$1.50MX$26.26
-38.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.19R$5.94
$1.99MX$34.79
-40.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.45R$7.26
$2.08MX$36.33
-30.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.14R$5.71
$1.79MX$31.29
-36.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.06R$5.31
$2.18MX$38.09
-51.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.74R$3.71
$1.08MX$18.84
-31.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66R$3.28
$1.04MX$18.15
-36.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.10R$10.48
$3.97MX$69.5
-47.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90R$39.42
$10.20MX$179
-22.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22R$6.07
$1.73MX$30.22
-29.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08R$10.37
$2.50MX$43.71
-16.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Marilia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.96R$4.78
$0.52MX$9.07
84.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.97R$194
$26.97MX$472
44.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.11R$5.53
$3.14MX$55.0
-64.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.70R$3.48
$2.40MX$42.04
-70.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.56R$32.74
$3.09MX$54.0
112.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.92R$4.57
$1.27MX$22.28
-27.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.4KR$101.6K
$30.9KMX$540.4K
-34.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2KR$140.6K
$23.3KMX$408.0K
20.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Marilia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$61.7R$308
$82.0MX$1,435
-24.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.74R$68.6
$22.45MX$393
-38.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.79R$93.8
$29.66MX$519
-36.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Marilia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.38R$112
$51.9MX$908
-56.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.69R$108
$18.67MX$327
16.18%
Cinema Ticket
$6.20R$30.92
$4.97MX$87.0
24.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Marilia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$268R$1,339
$198MX$3,462
35.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,440R$32.1K
$5,273MX$92.3K
22.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Marilia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.99R$249
$36.34MX$636
37.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.43R$207
$40.05MX$701
3.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.6R$372
$79.9MX$1,398
-6.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.7R$323
$88.9MX$1,555
-27.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Marilia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$311R$1,554
$963MX$16.9K
-67.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$213R$1,061
$465MX$8,133
-54.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$588R$2,932
$1,596MX$27.9K
-63.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$425R$2,120
$1,209MX$21.2K
-64.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,667R$8,316
$3,942MX$69.0K
-57.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,191R$5,943
$6,448MX$112.8K
-81.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Marilia
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$399R$1,990
$720MX$12.6K
-44.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.92
11.42
-4.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Marilia: April 27, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $311 in Marilia and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 81% 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: $27.00 in Marilia vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $177 vs $251 per month, with Marilia 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
Marilia vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Marilia?
Marilia is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 64% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Marilia or Playa del Carmen?
On paper, Playa del Carmen earns 81% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Marilia and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $311 in Marilia versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Marilia runs roughly 44% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $268 in Marilia versus $198 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Marilia or Playa del Carmen?
At $783 in Marilia versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Marilia but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Marilia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Marilia or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Marilia is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Marilia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.