😐A single person spends $1,482 per month in Moroni vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,197 per month in Moroni vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,912 per month in Moroni vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Moroni costs about 18% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Moroni sits 11% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Moroni
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.52KMF 2,791
$11.72MX$203
-44.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.41KMF 8,302
$41.89MX$725
-53.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.08KMF 3,457
$10.51MX$182
-23.12%
Cappuccino
$1.85KMF 793
$3.59MX$62.0
-48.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05KMF 447
$1.51MX$26.10
-30.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69KMF 295
$0.92MX$15.83
-25.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.10KMF 473
$2.96MX$51.2
-62.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91KMF 819
$4.41MX$76.3
-56.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Moroni
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.47KMF 1,914
$1.40MX$24.16
219.29%
White Bread(500g)
$0.61KMF 263
$1.88MX$32.60
-67.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.78KMF 760
$1.56MX$26.97
14.10%
Eggs
$5.06KMF 2,167
$2.61MX$45.14
93.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.04KMF 3,439
$8.32MX$144
-3.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$8.35MX$145
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.62KMF 5,399
$10.86MX$188
16.21%
Apples(1kg)
$5.33KMF 2,282
$2.71MX$46.93
96.68%
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.51MX$26.04
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.87MX$32.41
-
Tomato(1kg)
$4.20KMF 1,799
$2.19MX$37.89
91.78%
Potato(1kg)
$4.69KMF 2,005
$1.86MX$32.14
152.15%
Onion(1kg)
$3.27KMF 1,400
$2.23MX$38.59
46.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.33KMF 996
$1.07MX$18.48
117.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.32KMF 563
$1.09MX$18.79
21.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.19MX$72.4
-
Wine(Bottle)
$17.22KMF 7,367
$10.43MX$180
65.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00KMF 429
$1.66MX$28.68
-39.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.90KMF 2,952
$2.61MX$45.19
164.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Moroni
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.61KMF 259
$0.54MX$9.37
12.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.92KMF 14.1K
$26.16MX$453
25.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.68KMF 292
$3.08MX$53.3
-77.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.94KMF 404
$2.40MX$41.61
-60.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.14KMF 5,193
$3.13MX$54.1
287.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$3.08KMF 1,316
$1.31MX$22.69
135.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8KKMF 8.5M
$29.8KMX$515.7K
-33.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.8KKMF 7.6M
$23.3KMX$403.5K
-23.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moroni
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$115KMF 49.1K
$81.3MX$1,406
41.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.64KMF 15.2K
$22.56MX$390
57.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.4KMF 32.3K
$30.05MX$520
150.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Moroni
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.87KMF 15.3K
$52.9MX$915
-32.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.72KMF 5,868
$18.39MX$318
-25.39%
Cinema Ticket
$6.74KMF 2,885
$4.92MX$85.1
36.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Moroni
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$416KMF 178.0K
$201MX$3,474
107.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.6KKMF 6.3M
$5,175MX$89.5K
182.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Moroni
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.5KMF 27.2K
$35.92MX$622
76.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.2KMF 27.0K
$40.13MX$694
57.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115KMF 49.0K
$79.7MX$1,379
43.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.6KMF 37.1K
$86.5MX$1,496
0.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Moroni
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$748KMF 320.1K
$978MX$16.9K
-23.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$626KMF 267.7K
$470MX$8,140
32.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,448KMF 619.6K
$1,651MX$28.6K
-12.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,193KMF 510.4K
$1,203MX$20.8K
-0.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,561KMF 668.0K
$3,953MX$68.4K
-60.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,363KMF 582.9K
$6,607MX$114.3K
-79.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Moroni
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$675KMF 288.9K
$677MX$11.7K
-0.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.8
11.42
-66.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Moroni: July 25, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $748 in Moroni versus $978 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 0% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 $19.00 in Moroni versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $287 in Moroni vs $252 in Playa del Carmen – so Playa del Carmen 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
Moroni vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Moroni?
Yes – Moroni is pricier by about 18%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,223 per month in Moroni and $1,890 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
How do food prices compare in Moroni and in Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 14% more in Moroni, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Moroni or in Playa del Carmen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Moroni and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Moroni or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,260, than in Moroni at $1,482. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moroni it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Moroni or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Moroni makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.