Cost of Living Comparison Between Mata Utu and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Mata Utu and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $5,428 per month in Mata Utu vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,886 per month in Mata Utu vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,345 per month in Mata Utu vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Mata Utu costs about 319% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Mata Utu sits 305% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.46 CFPF 1,171

$11.73 MX$203

-2.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$115 CFPF 11.7K

$41.62 MX$720

176.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

Cappuccino

$8.16 CFPF 833

$3.52 MX$60.9

131.82%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.70 CFPF 583

$1.51 MX$26.12

277.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 CFPF 352

$0.97 MX$16.84

254.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.72 CFPF 584

$4.45 MX$77.0

28.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.93

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.72

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.32

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.34

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.04

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.20

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.87

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.91

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.71

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.80

Lettuce (1 head)

$11.35 CFPF 1,159

$1.04 MX$17.99

991.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$4.61 CFPF 471

$1.08 MX$18.62

326.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.13 CFPF 1,749

$4.08 MX$70.6

319.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.21 CFPF 1,758

$10.32 MX$178

66.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.61

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.54

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.4

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.09

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.96 CFPF 201

$1.31 MX$22.61

49.62%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.3K MX$523.7K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.4K MX$405.3K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$151 CFPF 15.4K

$82.9 MX$1,433

82.31%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$114 CFPF 11.7K

$22.22 MX$384

415.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$3,490 CFPF 356.5K

$29.34 MX$507

11796.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$893

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.6

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$201 MX$3,473

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$230 CFPF 23.5K

$36.92 MX$639

523.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$93.0 CFPF 9,504

$39.79 MX$688

133.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$229 CFPF 23.3K

$78.5 MX$1,357

191.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$295 CFPF 30.1K

$87.1 MX$1,506

238.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$925 CFPF 94.5K

$973 MX$16.8K

-4.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$927 CFPF 94.7K

$468 MX$8,090

98.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,339 CFPF 238.9K

$1,641 MX$28.4K

42.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,335 CFPF 238.5K

$1,221 MX$21.1K

91.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,530 CFPF 360.6K

$664 MX$11.5K

431.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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

Last update for Mata Utu: June 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $925 in Mata Utu versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 432% higher in Mata Utu, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $115 in Mata Utu versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $135 in Mata Utu vs $249 in Playa del Carmen – so Mata Utu wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Mata Utu vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $5,428 in Mata Utu, $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 319% apart. Mata Utu costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $8,141 per month in Mata Utu and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $115 in Mata Utu and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $5,428 in Mata Utu and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Mata Utu at $5,428. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mata Utu it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,297 in Playa del Carmen to $5,428 in Mata Utu. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mata Utu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.