Cost of Living Comparison Between Nanaimo, BC and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Nanaimo, BC and Playa del Carmen

😐 Solo nomad: Nanaimo, BC is 31.8% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 85.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Nanaimo, BC is 67.9% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 51.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nanaimo, BC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.26 CA$24.86
$11.99 MX$227
52.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.4 CA$84.9
$42.47 MX$803
46.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.44 CA$18.3
$10.47 MX$198
28.37%
Cappuccino
$4.1 CA$5.58
$3.6 MX$68.2
13.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59 CA$3.52
$1.44 MX$27.16
79.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 CA$2.66
$0.89 MX$16.79
120.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.72 CA$7.79
$3.09 MX$58.5
85.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.93 CA$8.07
$4.58 MX$86.6
29.48%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Nanaimo, BC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 CA$2.43
$1.38 MX$26.04
29.71%
White Bread (500g)
$3.33 CA$4.53
$1.85 MX$34.9
80.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.2 CA$5.71
$1.57 MX$29.68
167.52%
Eggs
$3.84 CA$5.23
$2.55 MX$48.3
50.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.84 CA$16.12
$8.61 MX$163
37.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.1 CA$21.91
$8.54 MX$161
88.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.04 CA$24.55
$10.98 MX$208
64.30%
Apples (1kg)
$4.46 CA$6.07
$2.72 MX$51.4
63.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 CA$2.09
$1.51 MX$28.57
1.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.57 CA$4.86
$1.88 MX$35.63
89.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.68 CA$6.37
$2.19 MX$41.42
113.70%
Potato (1kg)
$3.11 CA$4.24
$1.87 MX$35.3
66.31%
Onion (1kg)
$2.86 CA$3.9
$2.19 MX$41.37
30.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3 CA$4.09
$1.07 MX$20.23
180.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.24 CA$3.05
$1.09 MX$20.64
105.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.3 CA$18.1
$3.96 MX$74.9
235.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.23 CA$24.82
$8.86 MX$167
105.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 CA$3.2
$1.72 MX$32.53
36.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.4 CA$4.63
$2.61 MX$49.37
30.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Nanaimo, BC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.97 CA$2.68
$0.52 MX$9.74
278.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$48.64 CA$66.2
$26.59 MX$503
82.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.99 CA$4.08
$3.24 MX$61.2
-7.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 CA$1.83
$2.38 MX$44.94
-43.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.44 CA$46.87
$3.11 MX$58.7
1007.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 CA$1.84
$1.31 MX$24.85
3.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K CA$33.8K
$30.3K MX$573K
-18.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20K CA$27.3K
$24K MX$453.6K
-16.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nanaimo, BC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 CA$163
$84.2 MX$1,592
42.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.54 CA$64.7
$22.14 MX$419
114.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.5 CA$90.5
$30.14 MX$570
120.47%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Nanaimo, BC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.49 CA$41.5
$52 MX$983
-41.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.19 CA$15.23
$18.72 MX$354
-40.22%
Cinema Ticket
$11.02 CA$14.99
$5.07 MX$95.9
117.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nanaimo, BC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$790 CA$1,075
$200 MX$3,787
294.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.8K CA$16.1K
$5,333 MX$100.8K
121.33%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Nanaimo, BC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.89 CA$62.5
$35.74 MX$676
28.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.91 CA$47.52
$39.8 MX$753
-12.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.6 CA$110
$79 MX$1,493
2.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 CA$139
$88.4 MX$1,671
15.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nanaimo, BC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,323 CA$1,801
$965 MX$18.3K
37.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,165 CA$1,585
$474 MX$8,968
145.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,064 CA$2,809
$1,653 MX$31.2K
24.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,953 CA$2,658
$1,202 MX$22.7K
62.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,849 CA$5,240
$3,081 MX$58.3K
24.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,559 CA$4,845
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-52.73%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Nanaimo, BC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,528 CA$3,441
$792 MX$15K
219.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.47
11.42
-43.35%

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

Last update for Nanaimo, BC: October 28, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.