😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,301 in Ourense versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,914 in Ourense versus $2,125 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,527 in Ourense versus $2,990 in Playa del Carmen.
🌍Living in Ourense is roughly 3% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Ourense2% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ourense
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.30€14.98
$11.72MX$203
47.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.5€49.76
$41.89MX$725
37.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.55€5.68
$10.51MX$182
-37.68%
Cappuccino
$1.85€1.61
$3.59MX$62.0
-48.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44€2.11
$1.51MX$26.10
61.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63€1.41
$0.92MX$15.83
77.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.97€2.57
$2.96MX$51.2
0.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37€2.92
$4.41MX$76.3
-23.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ourense
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12€0.97
$1.40MX$24.16
-20.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.06€0.92
$1.88MX$32.60
-43.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.33€1.15
$1.56MX$26.97
-14.74%
Eggs
$2.83€2.45
$2.61MX$45.14
8.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.58€9.16
$8.32MX$144
27.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.45€6.45
$8.35MX$145
-10.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.82€11.10
$10.86MX$188
18.05%
Apples(1kg)
$1.80€1.56
$2.71MX$46.93
-33.58%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23€1.93
$1.51MX$26.04
47.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87€1.62
$1.87MX$32.41
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.29€1.98
$2.19MX$37.89
4.57%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.55
$1.86MX$32.14
-3.76%
Onion(1kg)
$2.28€1.97
$2.23MX$38.59
2.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13€0.98
$1.07MX$18.48
5.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75€0.65
$1.09MX$18.79
-31.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.95€5.15
$4.19MX$72.4
42.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.19€7.09
$10.43MX$180
-21.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22€1.05
$1.66MX$28.68
-26.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55€2.20
$2.61MX$45.19
-2.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Ourense
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.01€0.87
$0.54MX$9.37
87.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.05€25.16
$26.16MX$453
11.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.75€4.11
$3.08MX$53.3
54.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.50€0.43
$2.40MX$41.61
-79.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$57.3€49.65
$3.13MX$54.1
1731.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.72€1.49
$1.31MX$22.69
31.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.1K€33.9K
$29.8KMX$515.7K
31.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.0K€27.7K
$23.3KMX$403.5K
37.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ourense
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$109€94.6
$81.3MX$1,406
34.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.63€18.74
$22.56MX$390
-4.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.27€28.82
$30.05MX$520
10.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ourense
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.00€40.70
$52.9MX$915
-11.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.82€5.04
$18.39MX$318
-68.35%
Cinema Ticket
$8.74€7.57
$4.92MX$85.1
77.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ourense
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$353€305
$201MX$3,474
75.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,282€7,173
$5,175MX$89.5K
60.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ourense
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.3€66.9
$35.92MX$622
115.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.82€22.36
$40.13MX$694
-35.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.3€73.9
$79.7MX$1,379
7.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.9€64.0
$86.5MX$1,496
-14.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ourense
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$638€552
$978MX$16.9K
-34.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$472€409
$470MX$8,140
0.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$785€679
$1,651MX$28.6K
-52.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$560€485
$1,203MX$20.8K
-53.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,692€2,331
$3,953MX$68.4K
-31.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,847€1,600
$6,607MX$114.3K
-72.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ourense
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,513€1,310
$677MX$11.7K
123.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.22
11.42
-71.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ourense: July 27, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $638 in Ourense and $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ourense pays 124% 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: $57.0 in Ourense vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $238 vs $252, with Ourense cheaper for home cooking.
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
Ourense vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ourense and in Playa del Carmen?
Ourense and Playa del Carmen differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($1,301 vs $1,260 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Ourense or Playa del Carmen?
Average pay runs 124% higher in Ourense, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Ourense and in Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $638 in Ourense versus $978 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ourense or Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,301 per month in Ourense versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Ourense and in Playa del Carmen?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 11% less than in Ourense. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,301 in Ourense, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Ourense. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ourense and Playa del Carmen?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ourense or Playa del Carmen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ourense 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.
Where should expats move: Ourense or Playa del Carmen?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Ourense. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.