😐A single person spends $2,168 per month in Oswestry vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,813 per month in Oswestry vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,457 per month in Oswestry vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Oswestry costs about 67% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Oswestry sits 62% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oswestry
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.86£11.07
$11.73MX$203
26.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.1£51.5
$41.62MX$719
65.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.32£6.94
$10.64MX$184
-12.41%
Cappuccino
$3.47£2.59
$3.52MX$60.8
-1.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06£1.54
$1.51MX$26.09
36.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38£1.03
$0.97MX$16.82
42.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.99£2.97
$2.95MX$51.0
35.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45£3.31
$4.45MX$77.0
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oswestry
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.53£1.14
$1.38MX$23.90
10.87%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56£1.16
$1.89MX$32.69
-17.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.54£1.89
$1.64MX$28.29
54.88%
Eggs
$4.33£3.23
$2.51MX$43.30
72.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.61£7.90
$8.34MX$144
27.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.42£5.53
$8.34MX$144
-11.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.46£11.51
$10.73MX$185
44.08%
Apples(1kg)
$2.18£1.62
$2.60MX$45.00
-16.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77£1.32
$1.46MX$25.18
21.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.87£2.13
$1.90MX$32.84
51.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.51£2.61
$2.08MX$35.88
68.75%
Potato(1kg)
$1.54£1.15
$1.78MX$30.68
-13.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81£1.35
$2.19MX$37.76
-17.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04£0.77
$1.04MX$17.97
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19£0.89
$1.08MX$18.60
10.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$16.99£12.66
$4.08MX$70.5
316.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.74£7.26
$10.32MX$178
-5.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.66£1.98
$1.71MX$29.59
55.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92£1.43
$2.58MX$44.50
-25.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Oswestry
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.04£2.26
$0.51MX$8.81
496.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$89.0£66.3
$26.46MX$457
236.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.12£3.07
$3.26MX$56.4
26.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.38£1.03
$2.49MX$43.05
-44.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.69£18.39
$3.25MX$56.1
659.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.96£1.46
$1.31MX$22.59
49.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K£25.4K
$30.3KMX$523.2K
12.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.2K£32.2K
$23.4KMX$404.9K
84.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oswestry
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$254£190
$82.9MX$1,432
207.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.29£12.14
$22.22MX$384
-26.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.15£32.15
$29.34MX$507
47.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oswestry
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.22£34.44
$51.6MX$892
-10.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.32MX$317
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.40£8.49
$5.07MX$87.5
124.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oswestry
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,417£1,056
$201MX$3,470
605.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.9K£10.3K
$5,212MX$90.1K
166.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oswestry
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.3£44.95
$36.92MX$638
63.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.10£26.90
$39.79MX$688
-9.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$58.0£43.19
$78.5MX$1,356
-26.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.8£61.7
$87.1MX$1,505
-4.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oswestry
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,246£928
$973MX$16.8K
28.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,019£759
$468MX$8,082
117.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,020£760
$1,641MX$28.4K
-37.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$972£724
$1,221MX$21.1K
-20.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,146£3,834
$3,946MX$68.2K
30.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,221£2,400
$6,498MX$112.3K
-50.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oswestry
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,227£1,659
$664MX$11.5K
235.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.79
11.42
-49.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Oswestry: June 1, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,246 in Oswestry 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.
💰Salaries run about 235% higher in Oswestry, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Oswestry versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 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
Oswestry vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Oswestry?
Yes – Oswestry is pricier by about 67%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,252 per month in Oswestry and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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 has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,417 per month in Oswestry and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Oswestry and Playa del Carmen?
Groceries cost about 15% more in Oswestry, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Oswestry or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Oswestry at $2,168. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Oswestry it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Oswestry or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Oswestry or Playa del Carmen?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Oswestry makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.