Cost of Living Comparison Between Noord and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Noord and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,235 per month in Noord vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,096 per month in Noord vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,958 per month in Noord vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Noord is about 3% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Noord and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Noord 8% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.66 AWG 24.45

$11.87 MX$204

15.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.5 AWG 117

$42.90 MX$736

52.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.81 AWG 17.56

$10.65 MX$183

-7.89%

Cappuccino

$5.05 AWG 9.04

$3.45 MX$59.2

46.38%

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

$0.98 AWG 1.75

$1.50 MX$25.81

-34.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 AWG 2.67

$0.95 MX$16.28

56.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.29 AWG 9.46

$3.03 MX$51.9

74.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.77 AWG 12.11

$4.61 MX$79.1

46.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.61

White Bread (500g)

$1.85 MX$31.70

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 MX$27.65

Eggs

$2.59 MX$44.51

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 MX$142

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.37 MX$144

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.66 MX$183

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 MX$45.12

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 MX$25.53

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 MX$32.94

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$35.81

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$31.88

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.81

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 MX$18.23

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.67

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.15 MX$71.2

Wine (Bottle)

$10.23 AWG 18.31

$10.39 MX$178

-1.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 MX$29.59

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$44.85

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 AWG 5.27

$0.54 MX$9.30

444.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.94 MX$462

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 AWG 10.70

$3.13 MX$53.7

91.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$6.06 AWG 10.85

$2.51 MX$43.09

141.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$49.78 AWG 89.1

$3.15 MX$54.1

1480.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 AWG 2.63

$1.27 MX$21.88

15.75%

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

$30.4K MX$521.3K

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

$23.6K MX$404.5K

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

$153 AWG 274

$83.0 MX$1,425

84.22%

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

$22.71 MX$390

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$100 AWG 179

$29.46 MX$506

239.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.11 AWG 87.9

$51.0 MX$875

-3.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.33 MX$315

Cinema Ticket

$7.80 AWG 13.97

$4.93 MX$84.5

58.22%

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

$197 MX$3,386

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,280 MX$90.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.90 MX$633

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.89 MX$685

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.0 MX$1,373

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.5 MX$1,536

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$809 AWG 1,449

$956 MX$16.4K

-15.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$610 AWG 1,092

$477 MX$8,189

27.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,758 AWG 3,146

$1,646 MX$28.3K

6.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,602 AWG 2,868

$1,225 MX$21.0K

30.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,918 MX$67.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,459 MX$110.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$667 MX$11.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

-47.46%

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

Last update for Noord: June 9, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $809 in Noord versus $956 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Noord versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $20.00 in Noord vs $250 in Playa del Carmen – so Noord 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

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

Playa del Carmen costs about 3% more than Noord, 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 $1,853 per month in Noord and $1,906 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 Noord, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,235 in Noord and $1,271 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 1121% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Noord, where all-in costs run around $1,235, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Noord it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Noord costs $1,235 versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen. 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 Noord. 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.