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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,249 per month in Obihiro vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,966 per month in Obihiro vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,682 per month in Obihiro vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Obihiro is about 1% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Obihiro and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Obihiro 7% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Obihiro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.86 ¥1,276
$11.99 MX$209
-34.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.61 ¥5,624
$41.78 MX$728
-17.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.81 ¥945
$10.75 MX$187
-45.95%
Cappuccino
$3.06 ¥497
$3.50 MX$60.9
-12.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 ¥171
$1.45 MX$25.22
-27.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ¥121
$0.88 MX$15.41
-15.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.57 ¥417
$2.95 MX$51.3
-12.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 ¥519
$4.51 MX$78.6
-29.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Obihiro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ¥254
$1.43 MX$24.94
9.09%
White Bread (500g)
$1.48 ¥240
$1.84 MX$31.99
-19.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.77 ¥613
$1.57 MX$27.31
140.13%
Eggs
$2.29 ¥372
$2.51 MX$43.74
-8.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.01 ¥1,951
$8.28 MX$144
45.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.50 ¥1,056
$8.43 MX$147
-22.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.35 ¥2,495
$10.68 MX$186
43.73%
Apples (1kg)
$5.44 ¥884
$2.61 MX$45.43
108.43%
Banana (1kg)
$2.56 ¥416
$1.44 MX$25.04
77.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.92 ¥637
$1.96 MX$34.16
100.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.02 ¥978
$2.09 MX$36.47
188.04%
Potato (1kg)
$3.11 ¥506
$1.85 MX$32.24
68.11%
Onion (1kg)
$2.58 ¥419
$2.17 MX$37.74
18.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.52 ¥248
$1.03 MX$17.96
47.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 ¥144
$1.07 MX$18.70
-17.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15 ¥674
$4.10 MX$71.4
1.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.44 ¥1,209
$10.17 MX$177
-26.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85 ¥300
$1.68 MX$29.17
10.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 ¥361
$2.53 MX$43.98
-12.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Obihiro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.61 ¥262
$0.51 MX$8.87
215.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.8 ¥8,895
$26.04 MX$453
110.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.57 ¥580
$3.23 MX$56.3
10.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.01 ¥488
$2.41 MX$41.88
24.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.49 ¥3,330
$3.23 MX$56.2
534.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ¥201
$1.32 MX$23.00
-6.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.2K ¥3.8M
$29.7K MX$517.1K
-21.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.4K ¥2.8M
$23.7K MX$412.0K
-26.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Obihiro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 ¥27.5K
$82.0 MX$1,428
106.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.51 ¥4,470
$22.95 MX$400
19.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.64 ¥7,091
$30.11 MX$524
44.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Obihiro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.1 ¥8,944
$52.0 MX$905
5.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.73 ¥2,230
$18.53 MX$323
-25.90%
Cinema Ticket
$12.27 ¥1,994
$4.98 MX$86.6
146.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Obihiro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$283 ¥45.9K
$197 MX$3,438
43.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.5K ¥2.2M
$5,336 MX$92.9K
153.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Obihiro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.40 ¥4,452
$35.60 MX$620
-23.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.56 ¥4,803
$40.33 MX$702
-26.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$59.9 ¥9,734
$78.8 MX$1,371
-23.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7 ¥15.1K
$88.9 MX$1,549
4.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Obihiro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$443 ¥71.9K
$947 MX$16.5K
-53.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ¥50.2K
$474 MX$8,254
-34.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$877 ¥142.4K
$1,644 MX$28.6K
-46.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$649 ¥105.4K
$1,211 MX$21.1K
-46.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,848 ¥787.7K
$4,056 MX$70.6K
19.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,841 ¥299.1K
$6,470 MX$112.7K
-71.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Obihiro
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$654 MX$11.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
1.78
11.42
-84.41%

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

Last update for Obihiro: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $443 in Obihiro versus $947 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 $35.00 in Obihiro versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $317 in Obihiro vs $249 in Playa del Carmen – so Playa del Carmen 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
Obihiro vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Obihiro and in Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,249 in Obihiro, $1,256 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 1% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Obihiro compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,873 per month in Obihiro and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Obihiro and Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Obihiro, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 28% cheaper in Playa del Carmen – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Obihiro and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Obihiro, where all-in costs run around $1,249, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Obihiro it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Obihiro and Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,249 in Obihiro to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Obihiro or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Obihiro and Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Obihiro. 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.

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