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

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Mixco 36% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mixco
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.96 Q 68.3
$11.71 MX$198
-23.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.0 Q 404
$46.59 MX$788
13.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.23 Q 70.4
$11.65 MX$197
-20.77%
Cappuccino
$4.12 Q 31.45
$4.09 MX$69.2
0.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 Q 17.03
$1.37 MX$23.23
62.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 Q 11.45
$0.83 MX$14.09
80.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.82 Q 29.17
$3.35 MX$56.7
14.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.91 Q 45.08
$6.91 MX$117
-14.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mixco
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 Q 16.62
$1.73 MX$29.20
26.01%
White Bread (500g)
$4.93 Q 37.64
$2.26 MX$38.21
118.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.58 Q 12.03
$1.77 MX$29.91
-10.73%
Eggs
$2.60 Q 19.83
$2.73 MX$46.19
-4.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.54 Q 42.30
$9.18 MX$155
-39.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.58 Q 119
$8.92 MX$151
74.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.48 Q 79.9
$12.60 MX$213
-16.83%
Apples (1kg)
$4.34 Q 33.12
$3.02 MX$51.1
43.71%
Banana (1kg)
$2.04 Q 15.60
$1.57 MX$26.55
29.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.19 Q 39.57
$2.13 MX$35.93
143.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.67 Q 12.72
$2.26 MX$38.28
-26.11%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 Q 14.79
$2.00 MX$33.88
-3.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.71 Q 13.05
$2.06 MX$34.90
-16.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.29 Q 9.85
$1.18 MX$19.94
9.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 Q 10.10
$1.20 MX$20.35
10.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.89 Q 29.67
$4.63 MX$78.4
-15.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.10 Q 69.4
$10.69 MX$181
-14.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.16 Q 24.14
$1.62 MX$27.38
95.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.29 Q 32.72
$2.88 MX$48.70
48.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Mixco
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.57 MX$9.69
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$29.83 MX$504
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.65 Q 35.51
$5.45 MX$92.1
-14.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$3.70 MX$62.6
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$5.98 MX$101
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 Q 8.83
$1.55 MX$26.26
-25.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1K Q 176.4K
$22.3K MX$377.4K
3.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.6K Q 164.5K
$25.9K MX$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)
$63.5 Q 484
$89.1 MX$1,507
-28.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.40 Q 301
$25.04 MX$423
57.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.8 Q 525
$31.50 MX$532
118.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mixco
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$67.8 MX$1,146
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.92 MX$489
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.73 Q 66.6
$5.05 MX$85.4
72.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mixco
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$545 Q 4,155
$225 MX$3,803
142.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.9K Q 106.2K
$4,222 MX$71.4K
229.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mixco
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.53 Q 340
$47.44 MX$802
-6.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.3 Q 406
$44.98 MX$760
18.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.5 Q 690
$82.0 MX$1,386
10.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6 Q 668
$92.1 MX$1,557
-4.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mixco
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,069 MX$18.1K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$405 MX$6,852
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,935 MX$32.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,301 MX$22.0K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,995 MX$67.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,626 MX$112.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mixco
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$749 MX$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.

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