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

🙂 Solo nomad: Medan is 38.3% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 49.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medan is 37.4% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 56.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.81 Rp 31.1K
$11.61 MX$200
-84.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.77 Rp 184.6K
$42.75 MX$738
-74.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.26 Rp 55.9K
$10.60 MX$183
-69.25%
Cappuccino
$1.74 Rp 29.9K
$3.59 MX$62.0
-51.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 Rp 7,250
$1.45 MX$25.08
-71.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 Rp 4,666
$0.90 MX$15.50
-70.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.50 Rp 25.8K
$3.03 MX$52.4
-50.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.07 Rp 86.9K
$4.56 MX$78.8
11.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 Rp 21.0K
$1.45 MX$25.07
-15.17%
White Bread (500g)
$1.14 Rp 19.5K
$1.83 MX$31.55
-37.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.82 Rp 14.1K
$1.61 MX$27.77
-49.07%
Eggs
$1.57 Rp 26.9K
$2.54 MX$43.82
-38.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.84 Rp 168.7K
$8.54 MX$148
15.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.91 Rp 67.1K
$8.47 MX$146
-53.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.12 Rp 122.0K
$10.86 MX$188
-34.44%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 Rp 39.2K
$2.73 MX$47.13
-16.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 Rp 17.8K
$1.49 MX$25.77
-30.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 Rp 26.1K
$1.94 MX$33.55
-21.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.92 Rp 15.9K
$2.16 MX$37.38
-57.41%
Potato (1kg)
$0.69 Rp 11.8K
$1.85 MX$31.88
-62.70%
Onion (1kg)
$1.30 Rp 22.3K
$2.19 MX$37.80
-40.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.45 Rp 7,795
$1.07 MX$18.52
-57.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47 Rp 7,987
$1.08 MX$18.71
-56.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.41 Rp 41.3K
$4.06 MX$70.1
-40.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.72 Rp 286.6K
$10.46 MX$181
59.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.40 Rp 24.0K
$1.65 MX$28.56
-15.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 Rp 54.6K
$2.55 MX$44.01
24.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Medan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 Rp 5,070
$0.56 MX$9.60
-46.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.65 Rp 165.4K
$26.20 MX$453
-63.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.57 Rp 9,736
$3.14 MX$54.2
-81.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.20 Rp 3,425
$2.37 MX$40.96
-91.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.18 Rp 106.0K
$3.24 MX$56.0
90.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 14.1K
$1.31 MX$22.70
-37.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K Rp 471.6M
$30.5K MX$527.4K
-9.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K Rp 590.1M
$23.8K MX$411.4K
44.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.7 Rp 1.4M
$83.1 MX$1,436
-1.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.49 Rp 59.8K
$22.15 MX$383
-84.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.41 Rp 572.6K
$29.37 MX$507
13.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.19 Rp 397.6K
$51.2 MX$884
-54.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.18 Rp 123.1K
$18.69 MX$323
-61.58%
Cinema Ticket
$3.48 Rp 59.6K
$4.89 MX$84.4
-28.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$124 Rp 2.1M
$199 MX$3,431
-37.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.9K Rp 187.2M
$5,207 MX$89.9K
109.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.8 Rp 1.1M
$35.93 MX$621
80.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.15 Rp 739.6K
$39.39 MX$680
9.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 Rp 2.0M
$80.3 MX$1,387
45.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.8 Rp 1.1M
$87.6 MX$1,512
-24.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$196 Rp 3.4M
$963 MX$16.6K
-79.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$97.3 Rp 1.7M
$482 MX$8,326
-79.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$528 Rp 9.1M
$1,645 MX$28.4K
-67.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$231 Rp 4.0M
$1,192 MX$20.6K
-80.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,205 Rp 20.7M
$3,957 MX$68.3K
-69.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$587 Rp 10.1M
$6,513 MX$112.5K
-90.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medan
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$223 Rp 3.8M
$726 MX$12.5K
-69.31%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026

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

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