Cost of Living Comparison Between New Westminster and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between New Westminster and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,472 per month in New Westminster vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,911 per month in New Westminster vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,351 per month in New Westminster vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

New Westminster costs about 91% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

New Westminster sits 84% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.83 CA$20.63

$11.73 MX$203

26.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.7 CA$101

$41.62 MX$719

74.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.66 CA$13.43

$10.64 MX$184

-9.21%

Cappuccino

$3.88 CA$5.39

$3.52 MX$60.8

10.23%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 CA$2.85

$1.51 MX$26.09

35.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 CA$1.97

$0.97 MX$16.82

46.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 CA$8.47

$2.95 MX$51.0

106.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.68 CA$9.28

$4.45 MX$77.0

50.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 CA$3.25

$1.38 MX$23.90

68.84%

White Bread (500g)

$2.44 CA$3.40

$1.89 MX$32.69

29.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.74 CA$5.21

$1.64 MX$28.29

128.05%

Eggs

$3.42 CA$4.76

$2.51 MX$43.30

36.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.15 CA$14.12

$8.34 MX$144

21.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.25 CA$14.26

$8.34 MX$144

22.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.01 CA$13.93

$10.73 MX$185

-6.71%

Apples (1kg)

$3.08 CA$4.28

$2.60 MX$45.00

18.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 CA$1.93

$1.46 MX$25.18

-4.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.95 CA$4.10

$1.90 MX$32.84

55.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.73 CA$5.19

$2.08 MX$35.88

79.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.43 CA$3.38

$1.78 MX$30.68

36.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.22 CA$3.09

$2.19 MX$37.76

1.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.89 CA$2.62

$1.04 MX$17.97

81.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 CA$2.94

$1.08 MX$18.60

95.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.99 CA$22.23

$4.08 MX$70.5

291.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.60 CA$17.52

$10.32 MX$178

22.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 CA$3.07

$1.71 MX$29.59

28.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 CA$4.05

$2.58 MX$44.50

12.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.60 CA$3.61

$0.51 MX$8.81

409.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$95.9 CA$133

$26.46 MX$457

262.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.27 CA$3.16

$3.26 MX$56.4

-30.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 CA$2.31

$2.49 MX$43.05

-33.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.28 CA$32.37

$3.25 MX$56.1

616.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 CA$1.84

$1.31 MX$22.59

1.53%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.7K CA$34.4K

$30.3K MX$523.2K

-18.35%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.2K CA$28.1K

$23.4K MX$404.9K

-13.79%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$117 CA$163

$82.9 MX$1,432

41.67%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$45.91 CA$63.8

$22.22 MX$384

106.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 CA$92.2

$29.34 MX$507

125.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.64 CA$48.17

$51.6 MX$892

-32.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.46 CA$25.67

$18.32 MX$317

0.76%

Cinema Ticket

$12.00 CA$16.69

$5.07 MX$87.5

136.69%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$820 CA$1,141

$201 MX$3,470

308.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,202 CA$11.4K

$5,212 MX$90.1K

57.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.31 CA$65.8

$36.92 MX$638

28.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.02 CA$47.31

$39.79 MX$688

-14.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.2 CA$114

$78.5 MX$1,356

4.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 CA$144

$87.1 MX$1,505

18.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,627 CA$2,263

$973 MX$16.8K

67.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,355 CA$1,885

$468 MX$8,082

189.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,968 CA$4,127

$1,641 MX$28.4K

80.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,702 CA$3,758

$1,221 MX$21.1K

121.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,826 CA$6,712

$3,946 MX$68.2K

22.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,068 CA$5,657

$6,498 MX$112.3K

-37.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,133 CA$4,356

$664 MX$11.5K

371.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

11.42

-43.61%

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

Last update for New Westminster: June 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,627 in New Westminster versus $973 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 372% higher in New Westminster, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $73.0 in New Westminster versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $329 vs $249 – 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

New Westminster vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New Westminster costs about 91% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,707 per month in New Westminster and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $820 per month in New Westminster and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 32% more in New Westminster, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in New Westminster at $2,472. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in New Westminster it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,297 versus $2,472 in New Westminster. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, New Westminster makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.