🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $792 in Osório versus $1,259 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,261 in Osório versus $2,177 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,731 in Osório versus $3,095 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Osório costs roughly 37% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Osório41% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Osório
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.46R$32.69
$11.95MX$208
-45.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.49R$139
$41.94MX$730
-34.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.43R$32.52
$10.42MX$181
-38.29%
Cappuccino
$1.93R$9.78
$3.51MX$61.2
-45.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13R$5.74
$1.52MX$26.39
-25.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78R$3.97
$0.91MX$15.84
-14.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.22R$11.25
$3.04MX$52.9
-26.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54R$17.89
$4.37MX$76.1
-18.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Osório
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.84R$4.23
$1.42MX$24.73
-40.85%
White Bread(500g)
$0.70R$3.54
$1.83MX$31.87
-61.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.09R$5.51
$1.63MX$28.45
-33.13%
Eggs
$2.13R$10.80
$2.54MX$44.20
-16.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.30R$41.98
$8.57MX$149
-3.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.68R$23.68
$8.49MX$148
-44.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.99R$45.46
$10.80MX$188
-16.76%
Apples(1kg)
$1.10R$5.55
$2.75MX$47.94
-60.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.10R$5.57
$1.44MX$25.00
-23.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.53R$2.67
$1.89MX$32.83
-71.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.94R$4.73
$2.17MX$37.77
-56.68%
Potato(1kg)
$0.74R$3.73
$1.78MX$30.97
-58.43%
Onion(1kg)
$0.69R$3.50
$2.22MX$38.71
-68.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.56R$2.84
$1.07MX$18.60
-47.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52R$2.63
$1.08MX$18.79
-51.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.97R$9.94
$4.15MX$72.2
-52.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.88R$29.72
$10.45MX$182
-43.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93R$4.73
$1.74MX$30.34
-46.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81R$9.14
$2.58MX$44.92
-29.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Osório
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.87R$4.42
$0.51MX$8.94
70.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.00R$197
$25.94MX$451
50.35%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.61R$8.13
$3.21MX$55.9
-49.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02R$5.15
$2.50MX$43.55
-59.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42R$27.41
$3.19MX$55.4
69.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.06R$5.38
$1.26MX$21.87
-15.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8KR$120.6K
$29.7KMX$516.6K
-19.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5KR$138.9K
$23.7KMX$412.1K
15.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Osório
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$59.8R$302
$82.0MX$1,427
-27.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.61R$73.9
$22.73MX$395
-35.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.82R$100
$29.42MX$512
-32.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Osório
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.16R$112
$52.2MX$908
-57.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.48R$109
$18.45MX$321
16.42%
Cinema Ticket
$6.47R$32.71
$4.93MX$85.9
31.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Osório
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306R$1,549
$202MX$3,511
51.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,085R$35.8K
$5,217MX$90.8K
35.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Osório
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.48R$245
$35.93MX$625
34.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.2R$285
$40.33MX$702
39.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.4R$412
$79.9MX$1,390
1.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.0R$314
$89.3MX$1,554
-30.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Osório
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$309R$1,564
$948MX$16.5K
-67.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$220R$1,115
$465MX$8,097
-52.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$593R$2,999
$1,630MX$28.4K
-63.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$431R$2,180
$1,193MX$20.8K
-63.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,467R$7,418
$3,933MX$68.4K
-62.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,152R$5,829
$6,428MX$111.9K
-82.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Osório
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$658MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10
11.42
-12.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Osório: July 20, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $309 in Osório and $948 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $27.00 in Osório vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $155 vs $252 per month, with Osório 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
Osório vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Osório or Playa del Carmen?
Osório wins on cost – living expenses run 59% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Osório the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Osório and in Playa del Carmen?
You'd need roughly $1,187 in Osório and $1,888 in Playa del Carmen to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Osório compared to Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $309 in Osório versus $948 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Osório and in Playa del Carmen?
Childcare runs $306 in Osório versus $202 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Osório or in Playa del Carmen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 63% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Osório or in Playa del Carmen?
At $792 in Osório versus $1,259 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Osório but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Osório the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Osório or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Osório delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $792 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Osório hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Osório gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.