🙂A single person spends $878 per month in Mixco vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,425 per month in Mixco vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,971 per month in Mixco vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Mixco is about 32% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Mixco and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Mixco36% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mixco
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.96Q 68.3
$11.71MX$198
-23.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.0Q 404
$46.59MX$788
13.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.23Q 70.4
$11.65MX$197
-20.77%
Cappuccino
$4.12Q 31.45
$4.09MX$69.2
0.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23Q 17.03
$1.37MX$23.23
62.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50Q 11.45
$0.83MX$14.09
80.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.82Q 29.17
$3.35MX$56.7
14.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.91Q 45.08
$6.91MX$117
-14.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mixco
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18Q 16.62
$1.73MX$29.20
26.01%
White Bread(500g)
$4.93Q 37.64
$2.26MX$38.21
118.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58Q 12.03
$1.77MX$29.91
-10.73%
Eggs
$2.60Q 19.83
$2.73MX$46.19
-4.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.54Q 42.30
$9.18MX$155
-39.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.58Q 119
$8.92MX$151
74.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.48Q 79.9
$12.60MX$213
-16.83%
Apples(1kg)
$4.34Q 33.12
$3.02MX$51.1
43.71%
Banana(1kg)
$2.04Q 15.60
$1.57MX$26.55
29.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.19Q 39.57
$2.13MX$35.93
143.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.67Q 12.72
$2.26MX$38.28
-26.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.94Q 14.79
$2.00MX$33.88
-3.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.71Q 13.05
$2.06MX$34.90
-16.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.29Q 9.85
$1.18MX$19.94
9.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.32Q 10.10
$1.20MX$20.35
10.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.89Q 29.67
$4.63MX$78.4
-15.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.10Q 69.4
$10.69MX$181
-14.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.16Q 24.14
$1.62MX$27.38
95.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.29Q 32.72
$2.88MX$48.70
48.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Mixco
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.57MX$9.69
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$29.83MX$504
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.65Q 35.51
$5.45MX$92.1
-14.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$3.70MX$62.6
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.98MX$101
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.16Q 8.83
$1.55MX$26.26
-25.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1KQ 176.4K
$22.3KMX$377.4K
3.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.6KQ 164.5K
$25.9KMX$438.7K
-16.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mixco
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.5Q 484
$89.1MX$1,507
-28.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.40Q 301
$25.04MX$423
57.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.8Q 525
$31.50MX$532
118.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mixco
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$67.8MX$1,146
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.92MX$489
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.73Q 66.6
$5.05MX$85.4
72.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mixco
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$545Q 4,155
$225MX$3,803
142.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.9KQ 106.2K
$4,222MX$71.4K
229.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mixco
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.53Q 340
$47.44MX$802
-6.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.3Q 406
$44.98MX$760
18.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.5Q 690
$82.0MX$1,386
10.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6Q 668
$92.1MX$1,557
-4.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mixco
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,069MX$18.1K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$405MX$6,852
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,935MX$32.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,301MX$22.0K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,995MX$67.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,626MX$112.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mixco
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$749MX$12.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
11.45
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mixco: August 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Mixco versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $350 vs $277 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Mixco vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Mixco?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 47%, 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 $1,317 per month in Mixco and $1,940 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Mixco and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $878 in Mixco and $1,293 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $545 per month in Mixco and $225 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mixco or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mixco, where all-in costs run around $878, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. In Mixco it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mixco or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mixco – 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 Mixco. 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.