😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,021 in Montévrain versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,141 in Montévrain versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,260 in Montévrain versus $3,374 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Montévrain is roughly 56% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Montévrain is 47% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montévrain
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.69€16.08
$11.71MX$198
59.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.4€70.9
$46.59MX$786
76.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.91€11.97
$11.65MX$197
19.40%
Cappuccino
$4.92€4.24
$4.09MX$69.1
20.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74€4.08
$1.37MX$23.20
245.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98€2.56
$0.83MX$14.07
259.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.06€6.94
$3.35MX$56.6
140.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.03€6.05
$6.91MX$117
1.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montévrain
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.50€1.29
$1.73MX$29.15
-13.29%
White Bread(500g)
$2.44€2.10
$2.26MX$38.15
7.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.82€2.42
$1.77MX$29.86
59.32%
Eggs
$4.65€4.00
$2.73MX$46.12
70.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$23.73€20.42
$9.18MX$155
158.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.73€12.67
$8.92MX$151
65.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.44€19.31
$12.60MX$213
78.10%
Apples(1kg)
$3.36€2.89
$3.02MX$51.0
11.26%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35€2.02
$1.57MX$26.51
49.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.09€2.65
$2.13MX$35.88
45.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.09€3.52
$2.26MX$38.22
80.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$2.00MX$33.82
-0.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.65€2.28
$2.06MX$34.85
28.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.99€1.71
$1.18MX$19.91
68.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96€0.83
$1.20MX$20.32
-20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.25€13.12
$4.63MX$78.2
229.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.26€7.97
$10.69MX$180
-13.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.86€2.46
$1.62MX$27.33
76.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.82€3.29
$2.88MX$48.63
32.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Montévrain
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.20€1.89
$0.57MX$9.68
285.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$56.9€49.00
$29.83MX$503
90.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.21€7.93
$5.45MX$91.9
68.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.55€1.33
$3.70MX$62.5
-58.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$47.61€40.97
$5.98MX$101
696.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.22€1.91
$1.55MX$26.22
43.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.6K€31.5K
$22.3KMX$376.8K
63.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.9K€31.8K
$25.9KMX$438.0K
42.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montévrain
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$272€234
$89.1MX$1,504
205.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.26€14.86
$25.04MX$423
-31.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.41€26.17
$31.50MX$532
-3.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montévrain
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.54€31.44
$67.8MX$1,144
-46.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.92MX$488
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.97€12.88
$5.05MX$85.2
196.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montévrain
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,877€1,615
$225MX$3,797
734.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4K€8,924
$4,222MX$71.3K
145.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montévrain
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$117€101
$47.44MX$801
147.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.6€44.44
$44.98MX$759
14.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$123€106
$82.0MX$1,384
50.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$164€141
$92.1MX$1,555
77.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montévrain
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$861€740
$1,069MX$18.0K
-19.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$613€527
$405MX$6,842
51.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,483€1,276
$1,935MX$32.7K
-23.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272€1,095
$1,301MX$22.0K
-2.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,286€3,688
$3,995MX$67.4K
7.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,324€2,860
$6,626MX$111.8K
-49.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montévrain
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$749MX$12.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.27
11.45
-71.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Montévrain: September 1, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $861 in Montévrain and $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $82.0 in Montévrain vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $416 vs $277 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
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
Montévrain vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Montévrain?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 56% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,032 in Montévrain and $1,940 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Montévrain and Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $861 in Montévrain versus $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Montévrain and in Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,021 per month in Montévrain versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen – a 56% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 91% less than in Montévrain. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Montévrain or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,021 in Montévrain, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Montévrain. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Montévrain or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Montévrain, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Montévrain or Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Montévrain and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Montévrain. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Montévrain vs other spots: cost of living compared