🙂A single person spends $845 per month in Metn vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,336 per month in Metn vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,827 per month in Metn vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Metn is about 35% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Metn and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Metn37% lower, Playa del Carmen3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Metn
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.02LBP 986.1K
$11.73MX$203
-6.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.8LBP 5.4M
$41.62MX$720
46.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.10LBP 725.3K
$10.64MX$184
-23.87%
Cappuccino
$3.42LBP 305.9K
$3.52MX$60.9
-2.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58LBP 141.3K
$1.51MX$26.12
4.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94LBP 84.0K
$0.97MX$16.84
-3.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.44LBP 307.8K
$2.95MX$51.0
16.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.97LBP 445.2K
$4.45MX$77.0
11.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Metn
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80LBP 160.9K
$1.38MX$23.93
30.43%
White Bread(500g)
$0.78LBP 70.2K
$1.89MX$32.72
-58.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.01LBP 90.5K
$1.64MX$28.32
-38.41%
Eggs
$1.38LBP 123.5K
$2.51MX$43.34
-45.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.09LBP 544.8K
$8.34MX$144
-26.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.33LBP 566.8K
$8.34MX$144
-24.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.52LBP 1.0M
$10.73MX$186
7.36%
Apples(1kg)
$1.79LBP 160.0K
$2.60MX$45.04
-31.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53LBP 136.5K
$1.46MX$25.20
4.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.09LBP 97.3K
$1.90MX$32.87
-42.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.09LBP 97.6K
$2.08MX$35.91
-47.60%
Potato(1kg)
$0.93LBP 83.6K
$1.78MX$30.71
-47.75%
Onion(1kg)
$0.99LBP 88.9K
$2.19MX$37.80
-54.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83LBP 74.7K
$1.04MX$17.99
-20.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48LBP 42.5K
$1.08MX$18.62
-55.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.53LBP 136.7K
$4.08MX$70.6
-62.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.15LBP 908.5K
$10.32MX$178
-1.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.74LBP 66.4K
$1.71MX$29.61
-56.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01LBP 90.7K
$2.58MX$44.54
-60.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Metn
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.51MX$8.81
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.46MX$458
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.07LBP 454.1K
$3.26MX$56.4
55.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.26LBP 113.2K
$2.49MX$43.09
-49.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.69LBP 1.8M
$3.25MX$56.2
505.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94LBP 84.5K
$1.31MX$22.61
-28.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8KLBP 3.1B
$30.3KMX$523.7K
14.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0KLBP 2.5B
$23.4KMX$405.3K
19.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Metn
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$212LBP 19.0M
$82.9MX$1,433
156.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.24LBP 3.3M
$22.22MX$384
67.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.87LBP 3.3M
$29.34MX$507
25.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Metn
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$51.6MX$893
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.32MX$317
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.02LBP 717.4K
$5.07MX$87.6
58.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Metn
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$308LBP 27.5M
$201MX$3,473
53.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,443LBP 397.7M
$5,212MX$90.1K
-14.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Metn
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.5LBP 6.3M
$36.92MX$639
90.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.53LBP 4.1M
$39.79MX$688
14.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121LBP 10.9M
$78.5MX$1,357
54.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.5LBP 8.4M
$87.1MX$1,506
7.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Metn
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$973MX$16.8K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$468MX$8,090
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$509LBP 45.5M
$1,641MX$28.4K
-69.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,221MX$21.1K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,946MX$68.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,498MX$112.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Metn
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$664MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.16
11.42
-2.28%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Metn: June 1, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Metn versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $188 in Metn vs $249 in Playa del Carmen – so Metn 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
Metn vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Metn?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 53%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,267 per month in Metn and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Metn or Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Metn and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Metn and Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 33% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Metn or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Metn, where all-in costs run around $845, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Metn it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Metn or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Metn – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Metn. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.