🙂A single person spends $775 per month in Ozamiz vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,209 per month in Ozamiz vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,644 per month in Ozamiz vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
🙂Ozamiz is about 38% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Ozamiz and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Ozamiz42% lower, Playa del Carmen6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ozamiz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.48₱214
$11.99MX$210
-70.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.51₱1,078
$41.78MX$733
-58.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.24₱199
$10.75MX$189
-69.86%
Cappuccino
$2.38₱146
$3.50MX$61.3
-32.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78₱48.15
$1.45MX$25.41
-46.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39₱24.29
$0.88MX$15.52
-55.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.31₱81.0
$2.95MX$51.7
-55.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17₱133
$4.51MX$79.1
-51.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ozamiz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.82₱112
$1.43MX$25.12
27.27%
White Bread(500g)
$0.82₱50.5
$1.84MX$32.23
-55.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.88₱54.5
$1.57MX$27.51
-43.95%
Eggs
$1.57₱96.9
$2.51MX$44.06
-37.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.84₱483
$8.28MX$145
-5.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.23₱261
$8.43MX$148
-49.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.95₱489
$10.68MX$187
-25.56%
Apples(1kg)
$3.00₱185
$2.61MX$45.76
14.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53₱94.3
$1.44MX$25.22
6.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.62₱161
$1.96MX$34.41
33.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55₱95.7
$2.09MX$36.74
-25.84%
Potato(1kg)
$2.23₱137
$1.85MX$32.47
20.54%
Onion(1kg)
$2.49₱154
$2.17MX$38.02
14.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06₱65.4
$1.03MX$18.09
2.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₱43.41
$1.07MX$18.84
-33.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.89₱178
$4.10MX$72.0
-29.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.26₱570
$10.17MX$178
-8.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17₱72.0
$1.68MX$29.38
-30.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97₱121
$2.53MX$44.31
-22.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Ozamiz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.28₱17.26
$0.51MX$8.93
-45.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$26.04MX$457
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.82₱50.8
$3.23MX$56.7
-74.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.24₱14.81
$2.41MX$42.19
-90.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.10₱129
$3.23MX$56.6
-34.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13₱69.7
$1.32MX$23.17
-14.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K₱1.6M
$29.7KMX$520.9K
-10.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2K₱1.2M
$23.7KMX$415.0K
-14.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ozamiz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$113₱6,942
$82.0MX$1,439
37.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.15₱2,041
$22.95MX$403
44.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.99₱1,723
$30.11MX$528
-7.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ozamiz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.32₱2,051
$52.0MX$912
-35.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.51₱278
$18.53MX$325
-75.66%
Cinema Ticket
$6.04₱372
$4.98MX$87.3
21.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ozamiz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$154₱9,468
$197MX$3,463
-22.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,328₱266.4K
$5,336MX$93.6K
-18.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ozamiz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.82₱2,821
$35.60MX$624
28.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.74₱1,646
$40.33MX$707
-33.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.6₱4,653
$78.8MX$1,381
-4.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.7₱3,307
$88.9MX$1,560
-39.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ozamiz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$266₱16.4K
$947MX$16.6K
-71.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$176₱10.9K
$474MX$8,314
-62.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$584₱35.9K
$1,644MX$28.8K
-64.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$395₱24.3K
$1,211MX$21.2K
-67.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,644₱162.8K
$4,056MX$71.1K
-34.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$984₱60.6K
$6,470MX$113.5K
-84.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ozamiz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$196₱12.1K
$654MX$11.5K
-69.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
11.42
-41.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ozamiz: July 13, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $266 in Ozamiz versus $947 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 233% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 $18.00 in Ozamiz versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $200 vs $249 – making Ozamiz 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
Ozamiz vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Ozamiz?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 62%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,162 per month in Ozamiz and $1,884 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 Ozamiz, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Ozamiz and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $775 in Ozamiz and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $154 per month in Ozamiz and $197 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ozamiz or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ozamiz, where all-in costs run around $775, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Ozamiz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ozamiz or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ozamiz – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ozamiz. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.