๐A single person spends $2,571 per month in Netanya vs $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $3,714 per month in Netanya vs $2,130 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $4,856 per month in Netanya vs $2,999 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐Netanya costs about 104% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Netanya sits 92% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Netanya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.98โช74.9
$11.67MX$202
114.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$83.3โช250
$41.88MX$726
98.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.73โช47.20
$10.40MX$180
51.25%
Cappuccino
$4.55โช13.66
$3.61MX$62.6
26.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01โช9.02
$1.47MX$25.45
104.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72โช8.17
$0.91MX$15.80
198.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.11โช30.34
$3.03MX$52.6
233.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.37โช25.11
$4.47MX$77.4
87.25%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Netanya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.98โช5.93
$1.38MX$23.83
43.48%
White Bread(500g)
$2.31โช6.94
$1.84MX$31.93
25.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.00โช9.01
$1.61MX$27.82
86.34%
Eggs
$4.16โช12.49
$2.57MX$44.52
61.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.18โช45.53
$8.49MX$147
78.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.27โช33.82
$8.49MX$147
32.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.96โช59.9
$10.99MX$190
81.62%
Apples(1kg)
$3.26โช9.78
$2.73MX$47.25
19.41%
Banana(1kg)
$2.31โช6.92
$1.50MX$25.92
54.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93โช5.78
$1.96MX$33.93
-1.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.94โช8.81
$2.12MX$36.70
38.68%
Potato(1kg)
$1.46โช4.38
$1.86MX$32.30
-21.51%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36โช4.09
$2.17MX$37.67
-37.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.76โช5.27
$1.07MX$18.59
64.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.75โช5.26
$1.05MX$18.18
66.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.34โช34.01
$4.19MX$72.6
170.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.97โช32.91
$10.28MX$178
6.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.83โช8.48
$1.67MX$28.87
69.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01โช9.03
$2.49MX$43.12
20.88%
๐ Getting Around
Netanya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.24โช6.72
$0.54MX$9.37
314.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$69.8โช209
$26.27MX$455
165.59%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.53โช25.59
$3.10MX$53.8
175.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03โช3.08
$2.46MX$42.66
-58.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.62โช55.9
$3.24MX$56.1
474.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08โช6.25
$1.26MX$21.83
65.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2Kโช114.6K
$30.2KMX$522.8K
26.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6Kโช118.7K
$23.4KMX$406.3K
68.72%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Netanya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$243โช730
$84.0MX$1,456
189.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57โช40.71
$22.21MX$385
-38.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.83โช86.5
$29.65MX$514
-2.77%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Netanya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$78.1โช234
$52.6MX$912
48.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.00โช51.0
$18.34MX$318
-7.31%
Cinema Ticket
$12.43โช37.28
$4.95MX$85.7
151.11%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Netanya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,061โช3,183
$198MX$3,438
434.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,664โช17.0K
$5,322MX$92.2K
6.44%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Netanya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.4โช289
$35.95MX$623
168.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.0โช186
$40.06MX$694
54.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111โช334
$78.8MX$1,365
41.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131โช393
$86.5MX$1,499
51.55%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Netanya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,176โช3,528
$977MX$16.9K
20.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,122โช3,365
$471MX$8,158
138.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,909โช5,727
$1,595MX$27.6K
19.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,619โช4,857
$1,215MX$21.1K
33.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,785โช23.4K
$4,032MX$69.9K
93.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,661โช20.0K
$6,579MX$114.0K
1.24%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Netanya
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,023โช12.1K
$714MX$12.4K
463.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.83
11.42
-57.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Netanya: April 21, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $1,176 in Netanya versus $977 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.
๐ฐSalaries run about 463% higher in Netanya, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $83 in Netanya versus $42 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $363 vs $252 โ making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Netanya vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Netanya or Playa del Carmen?
Netanya costs about 104% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 Netanya vs Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,857 per month in Netanya and $1,891 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Netanya or Playa del Carmen?
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 childcare costs compare in Netanya and Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $1,061 per month in Netanya and $198 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Netanya or Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 44% more in Netanya, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Netanya or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Netanya at $2,571. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Netanya it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Netanya or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,261 versus $2,571 in Netanya. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Netanya 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 โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Netanya or Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Netanya makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.