😐A single person spends $1,610 per month in Ourem vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,365 per month in Ourem vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,120 per month in Ourem vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Ourem costs about 24% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Ourem sits 20% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ourem
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.53€10.01
$11.73MX$205
-1.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.14€40.03
$41.62MX$727
10.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.45€8.19
$10.64MX$186
-11.18%
Cappuccino
$1.50€1.30
$3.52MX$61.5
-57.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98€1.72
$1.51MX$26.37
31.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.20
$0.97MX$17.00
42.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.57€3.10
$2.95MX$51.5
21.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50€3.04
$4.45MX$77.8
-21.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ourem
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.07€0.93
$1.38MX$24.16
-22.46%
White Bread(500g)
$2.47€2.14
$1.89MX$33.04
30.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.37€1.19
$1.64MX$28.59
-16.46%
Eggs
$3.23€2.80
$2.51MX$43.76
28.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.36€10.72
$8.34MX$146
48.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.06€7.00
$8.34MX$146
-3.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.55€10.02
$10.73MX$187
7.64%
Apples(1kg)
$1.84€1.60
$2.60MX$45.48
-29.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.28€1.11
$1.46MX$25.45
-12.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.40€1.22
$1.90MX$33.19
-26.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.52€2.19
$2.08MX$36.26
21.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86€1.61
$1.78MX$31.01
4.49%
Onion(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$2.19MX$38.16
-15.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.90€1.64
$1.04MX$18.16
82.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.75
$1.08MX$18.80
-20.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.35€5.51
$4.08MX$71.3
55.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.42€2.97
$10.32MX$180
-66.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30€1.12
$1.71MX$29.90
-23.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65€1.43
$2.58MX$44.98
-36.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Ourem
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.34€2.03
$0.51MX$8.90
358.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.22€36.63
$26.46MX$462
59.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.24€3.68
$3.26MX$57.0
30.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80€0.70
$2.49MX$43.51
-67.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.60€16.13
$3.25MX$56.7
472.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.10€1.83
$1.31MX$22.83
60.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K€29.9K
$30.3KMX$528.8K
13.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.9K€34.6K
$23.4KMX$409.2K
70.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ourem
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123€106
$82.9MX$1,447
47.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.09€18.30
$22.22MX$388
-5.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.39€34.18
$29.34MX$512
34.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ourem
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.51€38.61
$51.6MX$902
-13.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.32MX$320
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.16€7.95
$5.07MX$88.5
80.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ourem
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$610€529
$201MX$3,507
203.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,484€5,626
$5,212MX$91.0K
24.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ourem
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.7€68.3
$36.92MX$645
113.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.03€36.47
$39.79MX$695
5.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.4€81.0
$78.5MX$1,370
19.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€105
$87.1MX$1,521
39.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ourem
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$935€812
$973MX$17.0K
-3.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$717€622
$468MX$8,169
53.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,462€1,268
$1,641MX$28.7K
-10.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,146€994
$1,221MX$21.3K
-6.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,150€2,733
$3,946MX$68.9K
-20.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,347€2,036
$6,498MX$113.5K
-63.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ourem
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,415€1,228
$664MX$11.6K
113.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
11.42
-66.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ourem: June 2, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $935 in Ourem 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 113% higher in Ourem, 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 $46.00 in Ourem versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $245 in Ourem vs $249 in Playa del Carmen – so Ourem 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
Ourem vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ourem or Playa del Carmen?
Ourem costs about 24% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ourem vs Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,414 per month in Ourem and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ourem or 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.
How expensive is transport in Ourem vs Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 60% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Ourem and Playa del Carmen?
Kindergarten costs $610 per month in Ourem and $201 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Ourem 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 Ourem at $1,610. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ourem it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ourem or Playa del Carmen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,297 versus $1,610 in Ourem. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ourem compared to 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.
Should I move to Ourem or Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ourem makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.