Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mudgee and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,667 in Mudgee, rent and utilities included – about $17,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mudgee, Australia
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Mudgee
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,667
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mudgee and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mudgee and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,667 in Mudgee versus $1,204 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Mudgee $2,667
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,586 in Mudgee versus $2,082 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Mudgee $3,586
  • Playa del Carmen $2,082

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,505 in Mudgee versus $2,959 in Playa del Carmen.

  • Mudgee $4,505
  • Playa del Carmen $2,959

Living in Mudgee is roughly 121% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mudgee is 96% above, Playa del Carmen is 12% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mudgee
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.96 A$24.09
$10.92 MX$204
55.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$83.9 A$119
$43.37 MX$808
93.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.39 A$13.34
$11.78 MX$220
-20.29%
Cappuccino
$3.58 A$5.08
$3.81 MX$71.0
-6.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 A$3.46
$1.28 MX$23.90
90.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 A$2.96
$0.78 MX$14.59
166.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.11 A$10.11
$3.17 MX$59.0
124.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.12 A$10.12
$4.93 MX$92.0
44.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mudgee
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 A$1.64
$1.41 MX$26.22
-17.73%
White Bread (500g)
$2.86 A$4.07
$2.22 MX$41.33
28.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.11 A$3.00
$1.42 MX$26.42
48.59%
Eggs
$4.00 A$5.68
$2.52 MX$47.03
58.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.60 A$12.21
$7.26 MX$135
18.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.39 A$10.50
$7.70 MX$143
-4.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.61 A$12.23
$12.69 MX$237
-32.15%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 A$4.19
$2.78 MX$51.9
6.12%
Banana (1kg)
$2.48 A$3.53
$1.37 MX$25.50
81.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.35 A$4.76
$2.55 MX$47.55
31.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.09 A$5.82
$2.12 MX$39.58
92.92%
Potato (1kg)
$2.32 A$3.30
$1.94 MX$36.13
19.59%
Onion (1kg)
$2.56 A$3.64
$1.89 MX$35.16
35.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.60 A$3.70
$1.15 MX$21.37
126.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 A$2.59
$1.18 MX$21.98
54.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$45.13 A$64.1
$4.30 MX$80.1
949.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.14 A$20.09
$9.95 MX$185
42.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.50 A$6.39
$1.58 MX$29.52
184.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.11 A$5.84
$2.67 MX$49.79
53.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Mudgee
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.64 A$3.75
$0.55 MX$10.31
380.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.3 A$106
$26.62 MX$496
179.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.55 A$5.04
$4.97 MX$92.6
-28.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.62 A$2.29
$3.33 MX$62.1
-51.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$44.92 A$63.8
$5.36 MX$99.8
738.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 A$1.87
$1.44 MX$26.92
-9.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9K A$41.1K
$20.7K MX$385.2K
39.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.4K A$34.6K
$23.5K MX$437.4K
3.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mudgee
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$235 A$334
$84.8 MX$1,581
177.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.19 A$45.74
$23.41 MX$436
37.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.6 A$71.9
$28.66 MX$534
76.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mudgee
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 A$81.2
$57.1 MX$1,063
0.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.99 A$24.14
$28.91 MX$539
-41.23%
Cinema Ticket
$13.36 A$18.98
$5.14 MX$95.8
159.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mudgee
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,201 A$3,128
$207 MX$3,851
965.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.3K A$27.5K
$3,927 MX$73.2K
392.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mudgee
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.9 A$99.3
$43.35 MX$808
61.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.2 A$89.8
$41.44 MX$772
52.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$142 A$202
$74.2 MX$1,383
91.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 A$158
$89.3 MX$1,664
24.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mudgee
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,530 A$2,175
$980 MX$18.3K
56.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,400 A$1,989
$381 MX$7,099
267.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,409 A$3,423
$1,708 MX$31.8K
41.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,704 A$2,422
$1,075 MX$20.0K
58.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,701 A$9,522
$3,943 MX$73.5K
69.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,720 A$6,707
$6,158 MX$114.8K
-23.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mudgee
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,594 A$7,949
$735 MX$13.7K
661.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
11.45
-56.33%

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

Last update for Mudgee: October 25, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mudgee
$1.4K
Playa del Carmen
$381 72.8% $1K
Groceries & Markets
Mudgee
$320
Playa del Carmen
$255 20.4% $65
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mudgee
$318
Playa del Carmen
$137 56.9% $181
Eating Out
Mudgee
$275
Playa del Carmen
$202 26.3% $72
Clothing & Footwear
Mudgee
$174
Playa del Carmen
$112 35.8% $62
Getting Around
Mudgee
$97
Playa del Carmen
$50 47.7% $46
Sport & Entertainment
Mudgee
$84
Playa del Carmen
$67 19.7% $17

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,530 in Mudgee and $980 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mudgee pays about 7.6 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $84 in Mudgee vs $43 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $255 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Mudgee
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
07:33 7:33 AM
15:33 3:33 PM
16 h behind Mudgee
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
11,563
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 AUD (1 AUD = 0.704 USD). 1 EUR = 1.58 AUD (1 AUD = 0.632 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.75 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mudgee Playa del Carmen 14,290 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mudgee
  • Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 55% 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 in Mudgee is about 7.6 times higher, 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: $1,530 in Mudgee versus $980 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 $2,667 per month in Mudgee versus $1,204 in Playa del Carmen – Playa del Carmen is about 55% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How expensive is transport in Mudgee compared to Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 64% less than in Mudgee. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Mudgee or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,667 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 offers a better quality of life: Mudgee or Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% less than in Mudgee. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Mudgee vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?