🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $775 in Martil versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,235 in Martil versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,696 in Martil versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Martil costs roughly 40% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Martil42% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Martil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.67MAD 24.60
$11.73MX$203
-77.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.64MAD 255
$41.62MX$719
-33.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.63MAD 61.1
$10.64MX$184
-37.69%
Cappuccino
$1.97MAD 18.14
$3.52MX$60.8
-44.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42MAD 3.90
$1.51MX$26.09
-72.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40MAD 3.66
$0.97MX$16.82
-58.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.50MAD 50.6
$2.95MX$51.0
86.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.12MAD 37.96
$4.45MX$77.0
-7.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Martil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.83MAD 7.66
$1.38MX$23.90
-39.86%
White Bread(500g)
$0.51MAD 4.66
$1.89MX$32.69
-73.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.96MAD 18.04
$1.64MX$28.29
19.51%
Eggs
$1.95MAD 18.00
$2.51MX$43.30
-22.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.19MAD 121
$8.34MX$144
58.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.17MAD 66.1
$8.34MX$144
-14.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.74MAD 108
$10.73MX$185
9.41%
Apples(1kg)
$1.61MAD 14.81
$2.60MX$45.00
-38.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.23MAD 11.28
$1.46MX$25.18
-15.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.78MAD 7.17
$1.90MX$32.84
-58.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.81MAD 7.45
$2.08MX$35.88
-61.06%
Potato(1kg)
$0.67MAD 6.16
$1.78MX$30.68
-62.36%
Onion(1kg)
$0.66MAD 6.10
$2.19MX$37.76
-69.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.39MAD 3.63
$1.04MX$17.97
-62.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59MAD 5.48
$1.08MX$18.60
-45.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.28MAD 39.42
$4.08MX$70.5
4.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.11MAD 74.7
$10.32MX$178
-21.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.63MAD 24.19
$1.71MX$29.59
53.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47MAD 22.70
$2.58MX$44.50
-4.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Martil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.50MAD 4.65
$0.51MX$8.81
-1.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.34MAD 150
$26.46MX$457
-38.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.53MAD 4.91
$3.26MX$56.4
-83.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.88MAD 8.12
$2.49MX$43.05
-64.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.43MAD 40.82
$3.25MX$56.1
36.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.59MAD 14.64
$1.31MX$22.59
21.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7KMAD 338.3K
$30.3KMX$523.2K
21.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7KMAD 273.4K
$23.4KMX$404.9K
26.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Martil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.62MAD 383
$82.9MX$1,432
-49.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.91MAD 100
$22.22MX$384
-50.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.44MAD 363
$29.34MX$507
34.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Martil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.01MAD 221
$51.6MX$892
-53.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.25MAD 214
$18.32MX$317
26.91%
Cinema Ticket
$6.70MAD 61.8
$5.07MX$87.5
32.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Martil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$160MAD 1,473
$201MX$3,470
-20.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,471MAD 59.6K
$5,212MX$90.1K
24.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Martil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2MAD 499
$36.92MX$638
46.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.09MAD 452
$39.79MX$688
23.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$109MAD 1,004
$78.5MX$1,356
38.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.8MAD 901
$87.1MX$1,505
12.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Martil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$280MAD 2,575
$973MX$16.8K
-71.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$176MAD 1,618
$468MX$8,082
-62.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$509MAD 4,691
$1,641MX$28.4K
-68.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$305MAD 2,810
$1,221MX$21.1K
-75.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,591MAD 14.6K
$3,946MX$68.2K
-59.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$951MAD 8,761
$6,498MX$112.3K
-85.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Martil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$664MX$11.5K
-
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $280 in Martil and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $28.00 in Martil vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $209 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 67% 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $1,162 in Martil and $1,945 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $280 in Martil versus $973 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 vs Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Martil runs roughly 62% 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 Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $160 in Martil versus $201 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 Playa del Carmen?
At $775 in Martil versus $1,297 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 67% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.