🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $687 in Martil versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,068 in Martil versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,450 in Martil versus $3,374 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Martil costs roughly 47% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Martil50% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Martil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.05MAD 28.52
$11.71MX$198
-73.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.26MAD 255
$46.59MX$787
-41.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.55MAD 70.6
$11.65MX$197
-35.19%
Cappuccino
$1.90MAD 17.80
$4.09MX$69.2
-53.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65MAD 6.04
$1.37MX$23.23
-52.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38MAD 3.59
$0.83MX$14.09
-54.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.67MAD 24.95
$3.35MX$56.7
-20.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21MAD 30.07
$6.91MX$117
-53.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Martil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.92MAD 8.57
$1.73MX$29.19
-46.82%
White Bread(500g)
$0.26MAD 2.42
$2.26MX$38.20
-88.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MAD 17.63
$1.77MX$29.90
6.21%
Eggs
$1.99MAD 18.59
$2.73MX$46.18
-27.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.93MAD 55.5
$9.18MX$155
-35.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.71MAD 62.8
$8.92MX$151
-24.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.93MAD 121
$12.60MX$213
2.62%
Apples(1kg)
$1.70MAD 15.95
$3.02MX$51.1
-43.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.41MAD 13.19
$1.57MX$26.54
-10.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.91MAD 8.53
$2.13MX$35.92
-57.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.88MAD 8.23
$2.26MX$38.27
-61.06%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71MAD 6.66
$2.00MX$33.87
-64.50%
Onion(1kg)
$0.81MAD 7.61
$2.06MX$34.89
-60.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.38MAD 3.58
$1.18MX$19.94
-67.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62MAD 5.77
$1.20MX$20.35
-48.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84MAD 35.91
$4.63MX$78.3
-17.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.01MAD 74.9
$10.69MX$181
-25.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.21MAD 20.66
$1.62MX$27.37
36.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60MAD 24.30
$2.88MX$48.69
-9.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Martil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MAD 5.03
$0.57MX$9.69
-5.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.95MAD 168
$29.83MX$504
-39.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.73MAD 6.84
$5.45MX$92.1
-86.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.91MAD 8.48
$3.70MX$62.6
-75.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.56MAD 33.32
$5.98MX$101
-40.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.50MAD 14.03
$1.55MX$26.25
-3.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.6KMAD 332.7K
$22.3KMX$377.3K
59.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.8KMAD 297.2K
$25.9KMX$438.5K
22.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Martil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$36.30MAD 340
$89.1MX$1,506
-59.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.42MAD 97.5
$25.04MX$423
-58.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.44MAD 322
$31.50MX$532
9.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Martil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.02MAD 253
$67.8MX$1,145
-60.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.78MAD 204
$28.92MX$489
-24.69%
Cinema Ticket
$3.84MAD 35.88
$5.05MX$85.3
-23.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Martil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$49.31MAD 461
$225MX$3,802
-78.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,060MAD 56.7K
$4,222MX$71.4K
43.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Martil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.21MAD 170
$47.44MX$802
-61.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.85MAD 420
$44.98MX$760
-0.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$56.9MAD 532
$82.0MX$1,386
-30.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.9MAD 645
$92.1MX$1,556
-25.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Martil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$278MAD 2,603
$1,069MX$18.1K
-73.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$178MAD 1,666
$405MX$6,850
-56.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$491MAD 4,592
$1,935MX$32.7K
-74.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$278MAD 2,604
$1,301MX$22.0K
-78.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,249MAD 11.7K
$3,995MX$67.5K
-68.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$857MAD 8,020
$6,626MX$112.0K
-87.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Martil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$749MX$12.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.52
11.45
-60.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Martil: August 30, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $278 in Martil and $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $27.00 in Martil vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $187 vs $277 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 88% 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 $1,030 in Martil and $1,940 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: $278 in Martil versus $1,069 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 66% 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 $49.31 in Martil versus $225 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 $687 in Martil versus $1,293 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 $687 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 88% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.