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: $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: Martil 50% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Martil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.05 MAD 28.52
$11.71 MX$198
-73.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.26 MAD 255
$46.59 MX$787
-41.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.55 MAD 70.6
$11.65 MX$197
-35.19%
Cappuccino
$1.90 MAD 17.80
$4.09 MX$69.2
-53.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 MAD 6.04
$1.37 MX$23.23
-52.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 MAD 3.59
$0.83 MX$14.09
-54.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.67 MAD 24.95
$3.35 MX$56.7
-20.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 MAD 30.07
$6.91 MX$117
-53.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Martil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.92 MAD 8.57
$1.73 MX$29.19
-46.82%
White Bread (500g)
$0.26 MAD 2.42
$2.26 MX$38.20
-88.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 MAD 17.63
$1.77 MX$29.90
6.21%
Eggs
$1.99 MAD 18.59
$2.73 MX$46.18
-27.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.93 MAD 55.5
$9.18 MX$155
-35.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.71 MAD 62.8
$8.92 MX$151
-24.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.93 MAD 121
$12.60 MX$213
2.62%
Apples (1kg)
$1.70 MAD 15.95
$3.02 MX$51.1
-43.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.41 MAD 13.19
$1.57 MX$26.54
-10.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.91 MAD 8.53
$2.13 MX$35.92
-57.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.88 MAD 8.23
$2.26 MX$38.27
-61.06%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 MAD 6.66
$2.00 MX$33.87
-64.50%
Onion (1kg)
$0.81 MAD 7.61
$2.06 MX$34.89
-60.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.38 MAD 3.58
$1.18 MX$19.94
-67.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62 MAD 5.77
$1.20 MX$20.35
-48.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84 MAD 35.91
$4.63 MX$78.3
-17.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.01 MAD 74.9
$10.69 MX$181
-25.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 MAD 20.66
$1.62 MX$27.37
36.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60 MAD 24.30
$2.88 MX$48.69
-9.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Martil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MAD 5.03
$0.57 MX$9.69
-5.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.95 MAD 168
$29.83 MX$504
-39.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.73 MAD 6.84
$5.45 MX$92.1
-86.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.91 MAD 8.48
$3.70 MX$62.6
-75.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.56 MAD 33.32
$5.98 MX$101
-40.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 MAD 14.03
$1.55 MX$26.25
-3.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.6K MAD 332.7K
$22.3K MX$377.3K
59.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.8K MAD 297.2K
$25.9K MX$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)
$36.30 MAD 340
$89.1 MX$1,506
-59.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.42 MAD 97.5
$25.04 MX$423
-58.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.44 MAD 322
$31.50 MX$532
9.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Martil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.02 MAD 253
$67.8 MX$1,145
-60.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.78 MAD 204
$28.92 MX$489
-24.69%
Cinema Ticket
$3.84 MAD 35.88
$5.05 MX$85.3
-23.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Martil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$49.31 MAD 461
$225 MX$3,802
-78.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,060 MAD 56.7K
$4,222 MX$71.4K
43.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Martil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.21 MAD 170
$47.44 MX$802
-61.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.85 MAD 420
$44.98 MX$760
-0.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$56.9 MAD 532
$82.0 MX$1,386
-30.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.9 MAD 645
$92.1 MX$1,556
-25.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Martil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$278 MAD 2,603
$1,069 MX$18.1K
-73.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$178 MAD 1,666
$405 MX$6,850
-56.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$491 MAD 4,592
$1,935 MX$32.7K
-74.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$278 MAD 2,604
$1,301 MX$22.0K
-78.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,249 MAD 11.7K
$3,995 MX$67.5K
-68.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$857 MAD 8,020
$6,626 MX$112.0K
-87.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Martil
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$749 MX$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.

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