😐A single person spends $1,595 per month in Ojochal vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,382 per month in Ojochal vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,170 per month in Ojochal vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Ojochal costs about 23% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Ojochal sits 19% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ojochal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.05₡4,591
$11.73MX$203
-14.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.0₡23.3K
$41.62MX$721
22.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.91₡4,527
$10.64MX$184
-6.86%
Cappuccino
$3.72₡1,697
$3.52MX$61.0
5.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04₡934
$1.51MX$26.17
35.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57₡718
$0.97MX$16.87
61.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.05₡1,395
$2.95MX$51.1
3.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58₡2,095
$4.45MX$77.2
2.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ojochal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.98₡904
$1.38MX$23.97
43.48%
White Bread(500g)
$2.91₡1,328
$1.89MX$32.78
53.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.13₡973
$1.64MX$28.37
29.88%
Eggs
$3.02₡1,382
$2.51MX$43.42
20.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.84₡4,498
$8.34MX$145
17.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.27₡4,234
$8.34MX$145
11.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.71₡6,263
$10.73MX$186
27.77%
Apples(1kg)
$4.58₡2,093
$2.60MX$45.12
76.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50₡686
$1.46MX$25.25
2.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.32₡1,974
$1.90MX$32.94
127.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.22₡1,472
$2.08MX$35.98
54.81%
Potato(1kg)
$3.33₡1,523
$1.78MX$30.77
87.08%
Onion(1kg)
$2.93₡1,339
$2.19MX$37.87
33.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03₡469
$1.04MX$18.02
-0.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.91₡1,329
$1.08MX$18.66
169.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.04₡2,301
$4.08MX$70.7
23.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.25₡7,883
$10.32MX$179
67.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.28₡1,042
$1.71MX$29.67
33.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55₡1,165
$2.58MX$44.63
-1.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Ojochal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.96₡438
$0.51MX$8.83
88.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.46MX$459
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.80₡824
$3.26MX$56.5
-44.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.78₡812
$2.49MX$43.17
-28.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.97₡3,640
$3.25MX$56.3
145.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.40₡639
$1.31MX$22.65
6.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.1K₡16.9M
$30.3KMX$524.7K
22.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K₡14.7M
$23.4KMX$406.0K
37.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ojochal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$95.7₡43.7K
$82.9MX$1,436
15.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.72₡11.8K
$22.22MX$385
15.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.9₡23.7K
$29.34MX$508
76.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ojochal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7₡26.4K
$51.6MX$895
11.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.22₡11.1K
$18.32MX$317
32.21%
Cinema Ticket
$10.05₡4,593
$5.07MX$87.8
98.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ojochal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$526₡240.5K
$201MX$3,480
162.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.4K₡5.7M
$5,212MX$90.3K
138.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ojochal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.9₡28.3K
$36.92MX$640
67.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.1₡23.4K
$39.79MX$689
28.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124₡56.5K
$78.5MX$1,360
57.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107₡49.1K
$87.1MX$1,509
23.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ojochal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$766₡350.1K
$973MX$16.9K
-21.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$600₡274.2K
$468MX$8,105
28.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,509₡689.7K
$1,641MX$28.4K
-8.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$973₡444.5K
$1,221MX$21.2K
-20.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,946MX$68.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,498MX$112.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ojochal
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$664MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.17
11.42
-10.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ojochal: June 1, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $766 in Ojochal 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Ojochal versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $358 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
Ojochal vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Ojochal and Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,595 in Ojochal, $1,297 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 23% apart. Ojochal costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Ojochal compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,392 per month in Ojochal and $1,945 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 Ojochal and 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.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ojochal or Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,595 in Ojochal and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ojochal and Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $526 per month in Ojochal and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Ojochal at $1,595. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ojochal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Ojochal and Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,297 in Playa del Carmen to $1,595 in Ojochal. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Ojochal 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 Ojochal and Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ojochal makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.