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

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 32% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 20.3% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 12.3% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 31% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$11.99 MX$227
-48.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$42.47 MX$803
-23.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$10.47 MX$198
-29.42%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$3.6 MX$68.2
-52.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$1.44 MX$27.16
-23.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$0.89 MX$16.79
-17.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$3.09 MX$58.5
-46.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$4.58 MX$86.6
-30.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$1.38 MX$26.04
-21.01%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$1.85 MX$34.9
-32.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$1.57 MX$29.68
-15.29%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$2.55 MX$48.3
-12.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$8.61 MX$163
-47.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$8.54 MX$161
-33.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$10.98 MX$208
-21.77%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$2.72 MX$51.4
-16.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$1.51 MX$28.57
-29.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$1.88 MX$35.63
-19.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$2.19 MX$41.42
-35.16%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$1.87 MX$35.3
-40.64%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$2.19 MX$41.37
-46.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$1.07 MX$20.23
-16.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$1.09 MX$20.64
-22.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$3.96 MX$74.9
-40.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$8.86 MX$167
5.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$1.72 MX$32.53
-31.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$2.61 MX$49.37
-4.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$0.52 MX$9.74
59.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
$26.59 MX$503
57.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$3.24 MX$61.2
-56.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$2.38 MX$44.94
-17.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$3.11 MX$58.7
152.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$1.31 MX$24.85
-22.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$30.3K MX$573K
-41.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$24K MX$453.6K
9.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$84.2 MX$1,592
-2.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$22.14 MX$419
-57.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$30.14 MX$570
-22.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$52 MX$983
-50.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
$18.72 MX$354
2.24%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$5.07 MX$95.9
-21.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$200 MX$3,787
52.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$5,333 MX$100.8K
11.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$35.74 MX$676
62.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$39.8 MX$753
-20.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$79 MX$1,493
30.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$88.4 MX$1,671
19.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$965 MX$18.3K
-49.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$474 MX$8,968
-20.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$1,653 MX$31.2K
-49.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$1,202 MX$22.7K
-39.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$3,081 MX$58.3K
-28.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-79.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$792 MX$15K
-30.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
11.42
17.60%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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