Cost of Living Comparison Between Medan and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Medan and Playa del Carmen

🙂 Solo nomad: Medan is 40.6% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 48.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medan is 25.5% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 54.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.85 Rp 30.1K
$11.99 MX$227
-84.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.83 Rp 175.8K
$42.47 MX$803
-74.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.18 Rp 51.6K
$10.47 MX$198
-69.63%
Cappuccino
$1.78 Rp 28.9K
$3.6 MX$68.2
-50.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 Rp 6,841
$1.44 MX$27.16
-70.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 Rp 4,406
$0.89 MX$16.79
-69.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.56 Rp 25.4K
$3.09 MX$58.5
-49.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.33 Rp 86.5K
$4.58 MX$86.6
16.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 Rp 20K
$1.38 MX$26.04
-10.87%
White Bread (500g)
$1.12 Rp 18.1K
$1.85 MX$34.9
-39.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.81 Rp 13.2K
$1.57 MX$29.68
-48.41%
Eggs
$1.5 Rp 24.3K
$2.55 MX$48.3
-41.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.32 Rp 151.2K
$8.61 MX$163
8.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.74 Rp 60.7K
$8.54 MX$161
-56.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.07 Rp 114.7K
$10.98 MX$208
-35.61%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 Rp 37.2K
$2.72 MX$51.4
-15.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 Rp 16.8K
$1.51 MX$28.57
-31.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.5 Rp 24.4K
$1.88 MX$35.63
-20.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.87 Rp 14.1K
$2.19 MX$41.42
-60.27%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 Rp 12.2K
$1.87 MX$35.3
-59.89%
Onion (1kg)
$1.31 Rp 21.2K
$2.19 MX$41.37
-40.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.42 Rp 6,810
$1.07 MX$20.23
-60.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.5 Rp 8,175
$1.09 MX$20.64
-54.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.43 Rp 39.5K
$3.96 MX$74.9
-38.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.77 Rp 109.8K
$8.86 MX$167
-23.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 21.7K
$1.72 MX$32.53
-22.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 Rp 52.4K
$2.61 MX$49.37
23.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Medan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.3 Rp 4,819
$0.52 MX$9.74
-42.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.99 Rp 162.2K
$26.59 MX$503
-62.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.54 Rp 8,703
$3.24 MX$61.2
-83.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.22 Rp 3,573
$2.38 MX$44.94
-90.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6 Rp 97.3K
$3.11 MX$58.7
92.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 13.8K
$1.31 MX$24.85
-35.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K Rp 445.8M
$30.3K MX$573K
-9.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K Rp 559.1M
$24K MX$453.6K
43.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.3 Rp 1.3M
$84.2 MX$1,592
-2.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.63 Rp 58.9K
$22.14 MX$419
-83.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.38 Rp 541.8K
$30.14 MX$570
10.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.25 Rp 377.4K
$52 MX$983
-55.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.99 Rp 113.4K
$18.72 MX$354
-62.66%
Cinema Ticket
$3.63 Rp 58.9K
$5.07 MX$95.9
-28.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$125 Rp 2M
$200 MX$3,787
-37.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.9K Rp 176.4M
$5,333 MX$100.8K
103.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.5 Rp 1.1M
$35.74 MX$676
86.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.8 Rp 711K
$39.8 MX$753
10.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$119 Rp 1.9M
$79 MX$1,493
50.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 Rp 2M
$88.4 MX$1,671
39.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$194 Rp 3.1M
$965 MX$18.3K
-79.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$97 Rp 1.6M
$474 MX$8,968
-79.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$541 Rp 8.8M
$1,653 MX$31.2K
-67.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 Rp 3.8M
$1,202 MX$22.7K
-80.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,311 Rp 21.3M
$3,081 MX$58.3K
-57.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$599 Rp 9.7M
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-92.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$221 Rp 3.6M
$792 MX$15K
-72.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.25
11.42
-19.00%

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

Last update for Medan: October 29, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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