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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $830 per month in Montana vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,325 per month in Montana vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,820 per month in Montana vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Montana is about 34% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Montana and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Montana 38% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.82 BGN 18.00

$11.99 MX$210

-9.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.78 BGN 57.9

$41.78 MX$733

-16.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.81 BGN 12.99

$10.75 MX$189

-27.35%

Cappuccino

$1.48 BGN 2.46

$3.50 MX$61.3

-57.71%

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

$1.40 BGN 2.33

$1.45 MX$25.41

-3.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 BGN 1.49

$0.88 MX$15.52

2.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 BGN 2.31

$2.95 MX$51.7

-52.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.07 BGN 1.78

$4.51 MX$79.1

-76.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 BGN 2.89

$1.43 MX$25.12

21.68%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 BGN 1.56

$1.84 MX$32.23

-48.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.82 BGN 3.03

$1.57 MX$27.51

15.92%

Eggs

$2.71 BGN 4.51

$2.51 MX$44.06

7.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.40 BGN 15.64

$8.28 MX$145

13.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.29 BGN 5.47

$8.43 MX$148

-60.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.91 BGN 21.48

$10.68 MX$187

20.88%

Apples (1kg)

$1.26 BGN 2.09

$2.61 MX$45.76

-51.72%

Banana (1kg)

$2.51 BGN 4.18

$1.44 MX$25.22

74.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 BGN 3.19

$1.96 MX$34.41

-2.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.00 BGN 3.33

$2.09 MX$36.74

-4.31%

Potato (1kg)

$0.84 BGN 1.40

$1.85 MX$32.47

-54.59%

Onion (1kg)

$0.79 BGN 1.31

$2.17 MX$38.02

-63.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 BGN 2.26

$1.03 MX$18.09

32.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 BGN 0.92

$1.07 MX$18.84

-47.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.60 BGN 5.99

$4.10 MX$72.0

-12.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.77 BGN 9.60

$10.17 MX$178

-43.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 BGN 1.52

$1.68 MX$29.38

-45.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 BGN 2.83

$2.53 MX$44.31

-32.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 BGN 1.53

$0.51 MX$8.93

80.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.46 BGN 59.0

$26.04 MX$457

36.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 BGN 1.12

$3.23 MX$56.7

-79.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 BGN 0.73

$2.41 MX$42.19

-81.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.35 BGN 17.22

$3.23 MX$56.6

220.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 BGN 2.51

$1.32 MX$23.17

14.39%

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

$19.7K BGN 32.8K

$29.7K MX$520.9K

-33.54%

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

$24.4K BGN 40.6K

$23.7K MX$415.0K

3.09%

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

$99.2 BGN 165

$82.0 MX$1,439

20.96%

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

$17.07 BGN 28.40

$22.95 MX$403

-25.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.91 BGN 14.82

$30.11 MX$528

-70.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.57 BGN 34.22

$52.0 MX$912

-60.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.65 BGN 14.40

$18.53 MX$325

-53.32%

Cinema Ticket

$5.56 BGN 9.25

$4.98 MX$87.3

11.65%

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

$322 BGN 536

$197 MX$3,463

63.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,484 BGN 9,123

$5,336 MX$93.6K

2.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.0 BGN 89.8

$35.60 MX$624

51.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.94 BGN 49.81

$40.33 MX$707

-25.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.0 BGN 125

$78.8 MX$1,381

-4.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 BGN 174

$88.9 MX$1,560

17.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$218 BGN 363

$947 MX$16.6K

-76.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$159 BGN 265

$474 MX$8,314

-66.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$409 BGN 681

$1,644 MX$28.8K

-75.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$304 BGN 506

$1,211 MX$21.2K

-74.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,331 BGN 2,214

$4,056 MX$71.1K

-67.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,109 BGN 1,845

$6,470 MX$113.5K

-82.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,018 BGN 1,693

$654 MX$11.5K

55.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.2

11.42

-71.98%

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

Last update for Montana: July 14, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $218 in Montana 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 56% higher in Montana, 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 $35.00 in Montana versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $249 – making Montana 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 51%, 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 $1,245 per month in Montana 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 Montana, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 36% less in Montana. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $322 per month in Montana and $197 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Montana, where all-in costs run around $830, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Montana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

If budget matters most, go with Montana. 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.