😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,264 in Mudgee versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,342 in Mudgee versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,421 in Mudgee versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Mudgee is roughly 80% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mudgee is 69% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mudgee
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.80A$25.50
$11.99MX$210
48.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.4A$135
$41.78MX$733
125.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.52A$12.21
$10.75MX$189
-20.74%
Cappuccino
$3.49A$5.01
$3.50MX$61.3
-0.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89A$4.14
$1.45MX$25.41
99.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13A$3.05
$0.88MX$15.52
142.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.53A$9.35
$2.95MX$51.7
121.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.68A$9.57
$4.51MX$79.1
48.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mudgee
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.31A$1.87
$1.43MX$25.12
-8.39%
White Bread(500g)
$2.39A$3.43
$1.84MX$32.23
29.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97A$2.82
$1.57MX$27.51
25.48%
Eggs
$3.44A$4.93
$2.51MX$44.06
37.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.13A$13.08
$8.28MX$145
10.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.02A$8.62
$8.43MX$148
-28.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.05A$20.13
$10.68MX$187
31.55%
Apples(1kg)
$2.27A$3.25
$2.61MX$45.76
-13.03%
Banana(1kg)
$2.58A$3.69
$1.44MX$25.22
79.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.64A$3.79
$1.96MX$34.41
34.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.68A$5.28
$2.09MX$36.74
76.08%
Potato(1kg)
$2.64A$3.79
$1.85MX$32.47
42.70%
Onion(1kg)
$2.15A$3.08
$2.17MX$38.02
-0.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.67A$2.39
$1.03MX$18.09
62.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08A$1.54
$1.07MX$18.84
0.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$29.77A$42.65
$4.10MX$72.0
626.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.98A$20.02
$10.17MX$178
37.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.19A$6.00
$1.68MX$29.38
149.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08A$4.42
$2.53MX$44.31
21.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Mudgee
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.65A$3.80
$0.51MX$8.93
419.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.7A$94.1
$26.04MX$457
152.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.27A$3.25
$3.23MX$56.7
-29.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.57A$2.25
$2.41MX$42.19
-34.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$38.55A$55.2
$3.23MX$56.6
1093.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13A$1.61
$1.32MX$23.17
-14.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3KA$42.0K
$29.7KMX$520.9K
-1.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7KA$31.1K
$23.7KMX$415.0K
-8.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mudgee
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188A$269
$82.0MX$1,439
129.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.59A$42.39
$22.95MX$403
28.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.0A$80.2
$30.11MX$528
85.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mudgee
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.36A$69.3
$52.0MX$912
-6.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.40A$22.07
$18.53MX$325
-16.89%
Cinema Ticket
$12.44A$17.82
$4.98MX$87.3
149.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mudgee
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$923A$1,322
$197MX$3,463
367.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.1KA$17.3K
$5,336MX$93.6K
126.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mudgee
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.4A$111
$35.60MX$624
117.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.42A$65.1
$40.33MX$707
12.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.2A$129
$78.8MX$1,381
14.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107A$153
$88.9MX$1,560
20.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mudgee
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,272A$1,823
$947MX$16.6K
34.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,051A$1,506
$474MX$8,314
121.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,037A$2,918
$1,644MX$28.8K
23.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,688A$2,418
$1,211MX$21.2K
39.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,442A$7,797
$4,056MX$71.1K
34.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,117A$7,331
$6,470MX$113.5K
-20.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mudgee
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,472A$7,840
$654MX$11.5K
736.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
11.42
-56.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mudgee: July 14, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,272 in Mudgee and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mudgee pays 737% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $94.0 in Mudgee vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $301 vs $249 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
Mudgee vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mudgee or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 80% lower than in Mudgee. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mudgee or in Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 737% higher in Mudgee, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mudgee compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,272 in Mudgee versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Mudgee compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,264 per month in Mudgee versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – a 80% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Mudgee compared to Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 152% less than in Mudgee. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Mudgee or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,264 in Mudgee, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Mudgee. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mudgee or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,256 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Mudgee compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Mudgee 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 80% less than in Mudgee. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.