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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $931 per month in Moka vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,586 per month in Moka vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,242 per month in Moka vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Moka is about 26% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Moka and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Moka 30% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.46 MUR 304

$11.99 MX$210

-46.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.21 MUR 2,077

$41.78 MX$733

5.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.74 MUR 317

$10.75 MX$189

-37.30%

Cappuccino

$2.65 MUR 124

$3.50 MX$61.3

-24.29%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 MUR 48.40

$1.45 MX$25.41

-28.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 MUR 28.35

$0.88 MX$15.52

-31.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 MUR 101

$2.95 MX$51.7

-26.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 MUR 127

$4.51 MX$79.1

-40.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MUR 65.9

$1.43 MX$25.12

-2.10%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 MUR 32.66

$1.84 MX$32.23

-61.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 MUR 60.6

$1.57 MX$27.51

-17.83%

Eggs

$2.23 MUR 105

$2.51 MX$44.06

-11.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.13 MUR 476

$8.28 MX$145

22.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.17 MUR 290

$8.43 MX$148

-26.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.64 MUR 500

$10.68 MX$187

-0.37%

Apples (1kg)

$1.98 MUR 92.9

$2.61 MX$45.76

-24.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.96 MUR 92.2

$1.44 MX$25.22

36.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.44 MUR 67.7

$1.96 MX$34.41

-26.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.73 MUR 128

$2.09 MX$36.74

30.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 MUR 48.05

$1.85 MX$32.47

-44.86%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 MUR 46.74

$2.17 MX$38.02

-54.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.84 MUR 39.59

$1.03 MX$18.09

-18.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 MUR 22.01

$1.07 MX$18.84

-56.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.87 MUR 276

$4.10 MX$72.0

43.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.20 MUR 479

$10.17 MX$178

0.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 MUR 83.4

$1.68 MX$29.38

5.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 MUR 78.5

$2.53 MX$44.31

-33.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 MUR 49.26

$0.51 MX$8.93

105.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.99 MUR 610

$26.04 MX$457

-50.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 MUR 126

$3.23 MX$56.7

-17.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.64 MUR 124

$2.41 MX$42.19

9.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.55 MUR 731

$3.23 MX$56.6

381.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 MUR 64.9

$1.32 MX$23.17

4.55%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.0K MUR 1.7M

$29.7K MX$520.9K

21.32%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.3K MUR 1.3M

$23.7K MX$415.0K

19.80%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$49.81 MUR 2,340

$82.0 MX$1,439

-39.26%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$18.48 MUR 868

$22.95 MX$403

-19.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.86 MUR 1,262

$30.11 MX$528

-10.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.58 MUR 1,155

$52.0 MX$912

-52.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$325

Cinema Ticket

$5.99 MUR 281

$4.98 MX$87.3

20.28%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$154 MUR 7,218

$197 MX$3,463

-22.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,002 MUR 188.0K

$5,336 MX$93.6K

-25.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.9 MUR 3,517

$35.60 MX$624

110.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.58 MUR 1,718

$40.33 MX$707

-9.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.8 MUR 4,406

$78.8 MX$1,381

19.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.0 MUR 2,629

$88.9 MX$1,560

-37.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$524 MUR 24.6K

$947 MX$16.6K

-44.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$329 MUR 15.5K

$474 MX$8,314

-30.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$936 MUR 44.0K

$1,644 MX$28.8K

-43.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$703 MUR 33.1K

$1,211 MX$21.2K

-41.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$71.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$113.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$677 MUR 31.8K

$654 MX$11.5K

3.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.25

11.42

-45.27%

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

Last update for Moka: July 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $524 in Moka versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 4% higher in Moka, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Moka versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $216 in Moka vs $249 in Playa del Carmen – so Moka 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

Moka vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 35%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,396 per month in Moka and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Moka, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $154 per month in Moka and $197 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% 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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Moka, where all-in costs run around $931, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Moka it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Moka – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Moka. 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.