🙂A single person spends $928 per month in Mugla vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,472 per month in Mugla vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,016 per month in Mugla vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Mugla is about 28% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Mugla and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Mugla32% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mugla
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.12₺344
$11.71MX$199
-39.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.44₺2,341
$46.59MX$791
3.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.98₺386
$11.65MX$198
-31.50%
Cappuccino
$3.82₺184
$4.09MX$69.5
-6.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75₺84.5
$1.37MX$23.34
27.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52₺25.33
$0.83MX$14.16
-37.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.06₺148
$3.35MX$56.9
-8.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84₺186
$6.91MX$117
-44.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mugla
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.11₺53.7
$1.73MX$29.33
-35.84%
White Bread(500g)
$1.00₺48.08
$2.26MX$38.39
-55.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07₺100
$1.77MX$30.05
16.95%
Eggs
$2.16₺105
$2.73MX$46.41
-20.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.43₺456
$9.18MX$156
2.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.00₺242
$8.92MX$151
-43.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.43₺987
$12.60MX$214
62.14%
Apples(1kg)
$1.72₺83.2
$3.02MX$51.3
-43.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.84₺88.9
$1.57MX$26.68
17.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.99₺47.74
$2.13MX$36.10
-53.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.49₺72.1
$2.26MX$38.46
-34.07%
Potato(1kg)
$0.52₺25.03
$2.00MX$34.04
-74.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.44₺21.15
$2.06MX$35.06
-78.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.00₺48.37
$1.18MX$20.04
-15.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₺33.90
$1.20MX$20.45
-41.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.39₺115
$4.63MX$78.7
-48.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20₺493
$10.69MX$182
-4.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26₺109
$1.62MX$27.50
39.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60₺125
$2.88MX$48.93
-9.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Mugla
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.28₺61.7
$0.57MX$9.74
124.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$29.83MX$507
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.97₺46.85
$5.45MX$92.5
-82.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73₺35.29
$3.70MX$62.9
-80.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.50₺410
$5.98MX$102
42.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35₺65.3
$1.55MX$26.38
-12.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.2K₺2.1M
$22.3KMX$379.2K
98.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.7K₺2.0M
$25.9KMX$440.7K
56.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mugla
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.8₺3,565
$89.1MX$1,514
-17.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.52₺509
$25.04MX$425
-57.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.70₺759
$31.50MX$535
-50.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mugla
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$67.8MX$1,151
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.92MX$491
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.57₺269
$5.05MX$85.8
10.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mugla
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$712₺34.4K
$225MX$3,820
216.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.5K₺650.5K
$4,222MX$71.7K
218.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mugla
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.67₺2,255
$47.44MX$806
-1.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.35₺1,611
$44.98MX$764
-25.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.0₺4,493
$82.0MX$1,392
13.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.4₺3,884
$92.1MX$1,564
-12.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mugla
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$412₺19.9K
$1,069MX$18.2K
-61.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$316₺15.2K
$405MX$6,884
-22.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$823₺39.7K
$1,935MX$32.9K
-57.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$518₺25.0K
$1,301MX$22.1K
-60.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,750₺84.6K
$3,995MX$67.9K
-56.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,051₺50.8K
$6,626MX$112.5K
-84.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mugla
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,549₺74.8K
$749MX$12.7K
106.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
40.44
11.45
253.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mugla: August 31, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $412 in Mugla versus $1,069 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 107% higher in Mugla, 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 $48.00 in Mugla versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $235 in Mugla vs $277 in Playa del Carmen – so Mugla 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
Mugla vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mugla or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen costs about 39% more than Mugla, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Mugla and in Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,392 per month in Mugla and $1,940 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Mugla or Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mugla, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Mugla compared to Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $928 in Mugla and $1,293 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Mugla and in Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $712 per month in Mugla and $225 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mugla or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mugla, where all-in costs run around $928, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. In Mugla it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mugla or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mugla costs $928 versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Mugla compared to Playa del Carmen?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Mugla or to Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Mugla. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.