Cost of Living Comparison Between Martil and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Martil and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $775 in Martil versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,222 in Martil versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,670 in Martil versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Martil costs roughly 38% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Martil 42% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Martil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.81 MAD 26.32
$11.99 MX$209
-76.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.47 MAD 257
$41.78 MX$728
-34.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.63 MAD 62.0
$10.75 MX$187
-38.33%
Cappuccino
$2.08 MAD 19.42
$3.50 MX$60.9
-40.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 MAD 4.01
$1.45 MX$25.22
-70.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 MAD 3.71
$0.88 MX$15.41
-54.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.46 MAD 51.1
$2.95 MX$51.3
85.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13 MAD 38.62
$4.51 MX$78.6
-8.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Martil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.82 MAD 7.69
$1.43 MX$24.94
-42.66%
White Bread (500g)
$0.48 MAD 4.47
$1.84 MX$31.99
-73.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.96 MAD 18.33
$1.57 MX$27.31
24.84%
Eggs
$1.91 MAD 17.92
$2.51 MX$43.74
-23.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.13 MAD 123
$8.28 MX$144
58.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.08 MAD 66.2
$8.43 MX$147
-16.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 MAD 112
$10.68 MX$186
11.80%
Apples (1kg)
$1.54 MAD 14.39
$2.61 MX$45.43
-41.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.20 MAD 11.23
$1.44 MX$25.04
-16.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.77 MAD 7.21
$1.96 MX$34.16
-60.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.85 MAD 7.97
$2.09 MX$36.47
-59.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.67 MAD 6.30
$1.85 MX$32.24
-63.78%
Onion (1kg)
$0.66 MAD 6.20
$2.17 MX$37.74
-69.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.43 MAD 3.98
$1.03 MX$17.96
-58.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 MAD 5.50
$1.07 MX$18.70
-44.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.40 MAD 41.13
$4.10 MX$71.4
7.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.03 MAD 75.1
$10.17 MX$177
-21.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.62 MAD 24.51
$1.68 MX$29.17
55.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 MAD 23.88
$2.53 MX$43.98
0.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Martil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.47 MAD 4.43
$0.51 MX$8.87
-7.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.48 MAD 154
$26.04 MX$453
-36.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.54 MAD 5.02
$3.23 MX$56.3
-83.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.88 MAD 8.21
$2.41 MX$41.88
-63.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 MAD 40.12
$3.23 MX$56.2
32.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.58 MAD 14.76
$1.32 MX$23.00
19.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K MAD 354.4K
$29.7K MX$517.1K
27.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.3K MAD 274.2K
$23.7K MX$412.0K
23.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Martil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.32 MAD 387
$82.0 MX$1,428
-49.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.96 MAD 103
$22.95 MX$400
-52.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.75 MAD 372
$30.11 MX$524
32.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Martil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.53 MAD 230
$52.0 MX$905
-52.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.15 MAD 217
$18.53 MX$323
24.93%
Cinema Ticket
$6.44 MAD 60.3
$4.98 MX$86.6
29.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Martil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$159 MAD 1,489
$197 MX$3,438
-19.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,556 MAD 61.3K
$5,336 MX$92.9K
22.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Martil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.9 MAD 495
$35.60 MX$620
48.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.85 MAD 448
$40.33 MX$702
18.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 MAD 999
$78.8 MX$1,371
35.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.3 MAD 911
$88.9 MX$1,549
9.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Martil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$276 MAD 2,584
$947 MX$16.5K
-70.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$171 MAD 1,601
$474 MX$8,254
-63.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$512 MAD 4,791
$1,644 MX$28.6K
-68.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$306 MAD 2,861
$1,211 MX$21.1K
-74.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,214 MAD 11.4K
$4,056 MX$70.6K
-70.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$905 MAD 8,466
$6,470 MX$112.7K
-86.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Martil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$654 MX$11.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.81
11.42
-57.88%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Martil: July 14, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $276 in Martil and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $27.00 in Martil vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $249 per month, with Martil 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
Martil vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Martil or Playa del Carmen?
Martil wins on cost – living expenses run 62% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Martil the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Martil and in Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $1,162 in Martil and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Martil compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $276 in Martil versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Martil compared to Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Martil runs roughly 58% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Martil and in Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $159 in Martil versus $197 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Martil or in Playa del Carmen?
At $775 in Martil versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Martil but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Martil the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Martil or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Martil delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $775 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Martil hard to pass up.
How safe is Martil compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Martil 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Martil gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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