😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,590 in Menorca versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,392 in Menorca versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,194 in Menorca versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Living in Menorca is roughly 24% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Menorca is 19% above, Playa del Carmen is 4% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Menorca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.83€12.67
$11.94MX$208
24.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.9€49.45
$42.75MX$744
35.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.57€9.03
$10.59MX$184
-0.19%
Cappuccino
$2.24€1.91
$3.62MX$63.0
-38.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36€2.02
$1.47MX$25.54
60.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70€1.45
$0.94MX$16.41
80.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.39€2.90
$3.09MX$53.8
9.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51€2.99
$4.46MX$77.6
-21.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Menorca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€0.99
$1.43MX$24.80
-19.58%
White Bread(500g)
$1.42€1.21
$1.88MX$32.79
-24.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.66€1.42
$1.63MX$28.34
1.84%
Eggs
$2.83€2.42
$2.64MX$45.99
7.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.82€11.80
$8.21MX$143
68.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.22€7.02
$8.29MX$144
-0.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.78€12.63
$11.10MX$193
33.15%
Apples(1kg)
$2.50€2.14
$2.65MX$46.14
-5.66%
Banana(1kg)
$2.05€1.75
$1.50MX$26.11
36.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.91€1.63
$1.99MX$34.59
-4.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.57€2.20
$2.08MX$36.13
23.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.70€1.45
$1.79MX$31.11
-5.03%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$2.18MX$37.87
-6.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36€1.16
$1.08MX$18.73
25.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76€0.65
$1.04MX$18.04
-26.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.42€5.48
$3.97MX$69.1
61.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.88€5.02
$10.20MX$178
-42.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22€1.04
$1.73MX$30.04
-29.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12€1.81
$2.50MX$43.46
-15.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Menorca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.64€1.40
$0.52MX$9.02
215.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$33.91€28.96
$26.97MX$469
25.73%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.02€3.44
$3.14MX$54.7
28.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.25€1.07
$2.40MX$41.80
-47.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.14€21.47
$3.09MX$53.7
713.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.74€1.48
$1.27MX$22.16
37.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.0K€32.5K
$30.9KMX$537.3K
23.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.2K€25.8K
$23.3KMX$405.7K
29.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Menorca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$138€118
$82.0MX$1,427
68.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.63€17.62
$22.45MX$391
-8.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.20€26.65
$29.66MX$516
5.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Menorca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.13€40.25
$51.9MX$903
-9.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.93€12.75
$18.67MX$325
-20.03%
Cinema Ticket
$9.21€7.86
$4.97MX$86.5
85.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Menorca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$408€348
$198MX$3,442
106.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,058€6,882
$5,273MX$91.7K
52.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Menorca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.4€71.2
$36.34MX$632
129.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.15€30.02
$40.05MX$697
-12.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.7€75.8
$79.9MX$1,390
11.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110€93.9
$88.9MX$1,547
23.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Menorca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$844€720
$963MX$16.8K
-12.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$684€584
$465MX$8,086
47.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,311€1,119
$1,596MX$27.8K
-17.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$994€849
$1,209MX$21.0K
-17.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,319€2,834
$3,942MX$68.6K
-15.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,345€2,003
$6,448MX$112.2K
-63.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Menorca
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$720MX$12.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.5
11.42
-69.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Menorca: April 28, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $844 in Menorca and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $58.0 in Menorca vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $262 vs $251 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
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
Menorca vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Menorca?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,385 in Menorca and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Menorca and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $844 in Menorca versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Menorca or Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $58.0 in Menorca. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Menorca vs Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,590 per month in Menorca versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Menorca or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,590 in Menorca, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Menorca. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Menorca or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Menorca, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Menorca or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Menorca and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Menorca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.