😐A single person spends $1,287 per month in Montego Bay vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,759 per month in Montego Bay vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,231 per month in Montego Bay vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Montego Bay and Playa del Carmen have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.
📊Both Montego Bay and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Montego Bay4% lower, Playa del Carmen4% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Montego Bay
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.69JMD 1,208
$11.94MX$209
-35.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.9JMD 7,988
$42.75MX$748
18.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.30JMD 1,147
$10.59MX$185
-31.07%
Cappuccino
$4.38JMD 688
$3.62MX$63.4
20.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37JMD 216
$1.47MX$25.69
-6.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71JMD 112
$0.94MX$16.51
-24.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.48JMD 389
$3.09MX$54.1
-19.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08JMD 484
$4.46MX$78.0
-30.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montego Bay
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$2.52JMD 396
$1.43MX$24.94
76.22%
White Bread(500g)
$2.68JMD 421
$1.88MX$32.97
42.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57JMD 246
$1.63MX$28.50
-3.68%
Eggs
$3.60JMD 565
$2.64MX$46.26
36.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.03JMD 1,732
$8.21MX$144
34.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.43JMD 1,010
$8.29MX$145
-22.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.77JMD 1,220
$11.10MX$194
-30.00%
Apples(1kg)
$3.37JMD 529
$2.65MX$46.40
27.17%
Banana(1kg)
$3.09JMD 486
$1.50MX$26.26
106.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.84JMD 445
$1.99MX$34.79
42.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.76JMD 277
$2.08MX$36.33
-15.38%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12JMD 333
$1.79MX$31.29
18.44%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13JMD 177
$2.18MX$38.09
-48.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.91JMD 300
$1.08MX$18.84
76.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.93JMD 146
$1.04MX$18.15
-10.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.61JMD 1,352
$3.97MX$69.5
116.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.46JMD 1,800
$10.20MX$179
12.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11JMD 331
$1.73MX$30.22
21.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06JMD 481
$2.50MX$43.71
22.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Montego Bay
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.93JMD 146
$0.52MX$9.07
78.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.97MX$472
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.93JMD 146
$3.14MX$55.0
-70.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.22JMD 505
$2.40MX$42.04
34.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.37JMD 1,001
$3.09MX$54.0
106.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24JMD 195
$1.27MX$22.28
-2.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.3KJMD 6.6M
$30.9KMX$540.4K
36.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1KJMD 5.4M
$23.3KMX$408.0K
46.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montego Bay
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$163JMD 25.6K
$82.0MX$1,435
98.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.26JMD 3,339
$22.45MX$393
-5.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.70JMD 7,491
$29.66MX$519
60.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montego Bay
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.35JMD 5,866
$51.9MX$908
-27.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.67MX$327
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.54JMD 1,185
$4.97MX$87.0
51.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montego Bay
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$62.6JMD 9,827
$198MX$3,462
-68.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,882JMD 295.6K
$5,273MX$92.3K
-64.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montego Bay
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.12JMD 4,102
$36.34MX$636
-28.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.10JMD 3,157
$40.05MX$701
-49.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.2JMD 10.4K
$79.9MX$1,398
-17.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.8JMD 11.9K
$88.9MX$1,555
-14.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montego Bay
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$257JMD 40.3K
$963MX$16.9K
-73.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$461JMD 72.4K
$465MX$8,133
-0.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$669JMD 105.0K
$1,596MX$27.9K
-58.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$431JMD 67.7K
$1,209MX$21.2K
-64.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,942MX$69.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,448MX$112.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montego Bay
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$562JMD 88.3K
$720MX$12.6K
-21.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8
11.42
-29.95%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Montego Bay: April 25, 2026
Última actualización para Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $257 in Montego Bay versus $963 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 28% higher in Playa del Carmen. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Montego Bay versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $284 vs $251 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Montego Bay vs Playa del Carmen: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Montego Bay vs Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,931 per month in Montego Bay and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Montego Bay or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Montego Bay or Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 13% more in Montego Bay, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Montego Bay vs Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Montego Bay and $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Montego Bay or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,287, than in Montego Bay at $1,287. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montego Bay it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Montego Bay or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,287 versus $1,287 in Montego Bay. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Montego Bay or Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Montego Bay makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Montego Bay vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado