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 $5,462 per month in Mata Utu vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,930 per month in Mata Utu vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,399 per month in Mata Utu vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Mata Utu costs about 335% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Mata Utu sits 309% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.55 CFPF 1,202

$11.99 MX$210

-3.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 CFPF 12.2K

$41.78 MX$731

181.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.75 MX$188

Cappuccino

$8.14 CFPF 847

$3.50 MX$61.1

132.57%

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

$5.76 CFPF 600

$1.45 MX$25.33

297.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 CFPF 371

$0.88 MX$15.47

305.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.96 CFPF 620

$4.51 MX$78.9

32.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$25.04

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$32.13

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$27.42

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.92

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.28 MX$145

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$147

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.68 MX$187

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 MX$45.62

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MX$25.15

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$34.31

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$36.62

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 MX$32.37

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.90

Lettuce (1 head)

$11.46 CFPF 1,192

$1.03 MX$18.04

1012.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$4.59 CFPF 477

$1.07 MX$18.78

328.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.13 CFPF 1,782

$4.10 MX$71.7

317.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.05 CFPF 1,774

$10.17 MX$178

67.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$29.29

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$44.17

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.90

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$455

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.5

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.41 MX$42.06

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.91 CFPF 199

$1.32 MX$23.10

44.70%

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

$29.7K MX$519.2K

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

$23.7K MX$413.7K

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

$151 CFPF 15.7K

$82.0 MX$1,434

83.72%

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

$116 CFPF 12.1K

$22.95 MX$401

405.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$3,445 CFPF 358.5K

$30.11 MX$527

11342.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$909

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$324

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MX$87.0

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

$197 MX$3,452

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$93.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$235 CFPF 24.4K

$35.60 MX$622

559.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$91.3 CFPF 9,504

$40.33 MX$705

126.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$229 CFPF 23.9K

$78.8 MX$1,377

191.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$288 CFPF 29.9K

$88.9 MX$1,555

223.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$926 CFPF 96.3K

$947 MX$16.6K

-2.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$909 CFPF 94.6K

$474 MX$8,288

91.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,325 CFPF 241.9K

$1,644 MX$28.7K

41.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,320 CFPF 241.4K

$1,211 MX$21.2K

91.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$70.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$113.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,468 CFPF 360.9K

$654 MX$11.4K

430.42%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $926 in Mata Utu versus $947 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 430% 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 $118 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: $5,462 in Mata Utu, $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 335% apart. Mata Utu costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $8,192 per month in Mata Utu and $1,884 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 $118 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 $5,462 in Mata Utu and $1,256 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 $1,256, than in Mata Utu at $5,462. 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 $1,256 in Playa del Carmen to $5,462 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.