😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,103 in Oeiras versus $1,330 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,166 in Oeiras versus $2,336 in Playa del Carmen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,230 in Oeiras versus $3,341 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Oeiras is roughly 58% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Oeiras is 53% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oeiras
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.45€14.07
$13.02MX$221
26.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.2€49.75
$46.25MX$784
25.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.42€9.77
$12.59MX$213
-9.29%
Cappuccino
$2.57€2.20
$4.00MX$67.9
-35.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02€1.73
$1.42MX$24.08
42.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.32
$0.81MX$13.73
90.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.54€3.03
$3.05MX$51.7
16.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97€3.39
$6.82MX$116
-41.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oeiras
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13€0.97
$1.71MX$29.04
-33.92%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26€1.07
$2.22MX$37.62
-43.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.14€1.83
$1.72MX$29.13
24.42%
Eggs
$3.59€3.07
$2.71MX$45.99
32.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.65€12.53
$9.37MX$159
56.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.02€6.86
$8.86MX$150
-9.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.19€16.42
$12.78MX$217
50.16%
Apples(1kg)
$3.02€2.58
$3.13MX$53.0
-3.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.47€1.26
$1.55MX$26.24
-5.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87€1.60
$2.15MX$36.51
-13.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.65€2.26
$2.35MX$39.89
12.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.82€1.56
$2.02MX$34.23
-9.90%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19€1.88
$1.99MX$33.67
10.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.84€0.72
$1.24MX$21.09
-32.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.70
$1.19MX$20.21
-31.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.11€5.22
$4.65MX$78.8
31.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.68€4.01
$10.47MX$177
-55.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.19
$1.58MX$26.82
-12.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61€2.23
$2.92MX$49.48
-10.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Oeiras
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.95
$0.56MX$9.53
305.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.89€40.11
$29.76MX$504
57.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.67€3.14
$5.32MX$90.2
-31.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.78€0.67
$3.72MX$63.0
-79.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.35€14.84
$5.78MX$97.9
200.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.95€1.67
$1.55MX$26.27
25.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K€30.0K
$22.4KMX$379.1K
57.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K€33.5K
$25.6KMX$433.3K
53.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oeiras
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122€104
$89.3MX$1,513
36.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.71€17.71
$23.30MX$395
-11.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.63€33.90
$31.72MX$538
24.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oeiras
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.1€51.4
$68.8MX$1,165
-12.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.40€23.44
$29.40MX$498
-6.80%
Cinema Ticket
$8.73€7.47
$5.06MX$85.7
72.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oeiras
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$490€419
$222MX$3,765
120.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.7K€9,976
$4,293MX$72.7K
171.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oeiras
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.2€77.2
$46.21MX$783
95.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.51€38.93
$44.43MX$753
2.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€95.1
$95.5MX$1,618
16.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158€135
$92.5MX$1,568
70.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oeiras
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,105€945
$1,069MX$18.1K
3.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,052€899
$393MX$6,663
167.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,323€1,987
$1,988MX$33.7K
16.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,806€1,545
$1,304MX$22.1K
38.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,716€4,889
$4,037MX$68.4K
41.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,412€2,918
$6,627MX$112.3K
-48.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oeiras
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,341€1,147
$747MX$12.7K
79.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.85
11.6
-66.81%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Oeiras: August 17, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 18, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,105 in Oeiras and $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Oeiras pays 80% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $58.0 in Oeiras vs $46.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $278 vs $277 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
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
Oeiras vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Oeiras or Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 58% lower than in Oeiras. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Oeiras or in Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 80% higher in Oeiras, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Oeiras compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,105 in Oeiras versus $1,069 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Oeiras and in Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $58.0 in Oeiras. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Oeiras compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $2,103 per month in Oeiras versus $1,330 in Playa del Carmen – a 58% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Oeiras or in Playa del Carmen?
At $1,330 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,103 in Oeiras, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Oeiras. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Oeiras or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,330 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Oeiras compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Oeiras and Playa del Carmen are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Oeiras. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.