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 $862 per month in Montana vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Montana vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,937 per month in Montana vs $3,362 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 37% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.45 BGN 15.73

$11.96 MX$203

-20.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.89 BGN 61.4

$47.38 MX$804

-22.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 BGN 16.40

$11.75 MX$199

-16.09%

Cappuccino

$1.44 BGN 2.40

$4.12 MX$70.0

-65.05%

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

$1.46 BGN 2.43

$1.40 MX$23.74

4.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 BGN 1.84

$0.91 MX$15.48

20.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.40 BGN 2.32

$3.21 MX$54.4

-56.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 BGN 1.80

$7.07 MX$120

-84.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 BGN 2.82

$1.68 MX$28.44

1.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 BGN 1.80

$2.15 MX$36.48

-49.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 BGN 3.59

$1.77 MX$30.10

22.03%

Eggs

$2.77 BGN 4.60

$2.82 MX$47.76

-1.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.91 BGN 16.49

$9.20 MX$156

7.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.34 BGN 5.56

$9.23 MX$157

-63.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.87 BGN 21.41

$12.64 MX$214

1.82%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 BGN 2.17

$2.95 MX$50.1

-55.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 BGN 3.21

$1.58 MX$26.79

22.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.84 BGN 3.05

$2.22 MX$37.70

-17.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.65 BGN 4.40

$2.36 MX$40.09

12.29%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 BGN 1.20

$1.99 MX$33.81

-63.82%

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 BGN 1.61

$1.98 MX$33.58

-51.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 BGN 1.58

$1.24 MX$21.04

-23.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 BGN 0.86

$1.21 MX$20.55

-57.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.83 BGN 6.38

$4.60 MX$78.1

-16.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.47 BGN 10.77

$10.52 MX$178

-38.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 BGN 1.51

$1.69 MX$28.70

-46.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 BGN 2.04

$2.77 MX$47.06

-55.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 BGN 1.41

$0.60 MX$10.22

41.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.69 BGN 41.08

$29.70 MX$504

-16.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.62 BGN 1.04

$5.24 MX$88.8

-88.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 BGN 0.77

$3.65 MX$61.9

-87.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.89 BGN 18.12

$5.78 MX$98.1

88.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.57 BGN 2.61

$1.54 MX$26.09

1.95%

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

$19.9K BGN 33.0K

$22.8K MX$386.8K

-12.94%

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

$24.7K BGN 41.1K

$25.8K MX$437.9K

-4.18%

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

$105 BGN 174

$90.7 MX$1,538

15.45%

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

$19.18 BGN 31.91

$25.19 MX$427

-23.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.86 BGN 14.74

$31.75 MX$539

-72.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.81 BGN 52.9

$68.8 MX$1,167

-53.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.58 BGN 29.25

$29.37 MX$498

-40.14%

Cinema Ticket

$5.61 BGN 9.33

$4.86 MX$82.5

15.43%

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

$537 BGN 893

$226 MX$3,828

137.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,681 BGN 9,452

$4,194 MX$71.1K

35.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.8 BGN 119

$47.38 MX$804

51.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.05 BGN 73.3

$43.45 MX$737

1.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.8 BGN 164

$80.2 MX$1,361

23.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 BGN 180

$91.4 MX$1,550

18.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$225 BGN 375

$1,086 MX$18.4K

-79.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$166 BGN 277

$409 MX$6,933

-59.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$409 BGN 681

$1,972 MX$33.5K

-79.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$307 BGN 511

$1,281 MX$21.7K

-76.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,368 BGN 2,276

$4,046 MX$68.6K

-66.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,112 BGN 1,849

$6,704 MX$113.7K

-83.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,026 BGN 1,706

$773 MX$13.1K

32.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.1

11.45

-72.93%

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

Last update for Montana: September 7, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $225 in Montana versus $1,086 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 33% 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 $37.00 in Montana versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $278 – 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 $1,293 per month in Montana and $1,958 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 20% less in Montana. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $537 per month in Montana and $226 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 $862, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. 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.