Cost of Living Comparison Between Papeete and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Papeete and Playa del Carmen

😐 Solo nomad: Papeete is 66.3% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 82.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Papeete is 74.7% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 52.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Papeete
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.52 CFPF 1,800
$11.85 MX$209
47.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.6 CFPF 8,384
$42.16 MX$744
93.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.31 CFPF 1,265
$10.75 MX$190
14.51%
Cappuccino
$3.94 CFPF 405
$3.47 MX$61.3
13.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28 CFPF 337
$1.45 MX$25.65
126.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 CFPF 278
$0.90 MX$15.93
201.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.97 CFPF 305
$3.05 MX$53.9
-2.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.89 CFPF 400
$4.42 MX$77.9
-11.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Papeete
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.59 CFPF 164
$1.37 MX$24.17
16.06%
White Bread (500g)
$0.76 CFPF 78.1
$1.87 MX$33.05
-59.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 CFPF 168
$1.54 MX$27.25
6.49%
Eggs
$6.42 CFPF 660
$2.50 MX$44.18
156.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$25.79 CFPF 2,649
$8.61 MX$152
199.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.96 CFPF 1,742
$8.63 MX$152
96.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$26.63 CFPF 2,736
$11.02 MX$195
141.65%
Apples (1kg)
$5.19 CFPF 533
$2.75 MX$48.53
88.73%
Banana (1kg)
$2.23 CFPF 229
$1.43 MX$25.21
55.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.78 CFPF 594
$1.87 MX$33.05
209.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.82 CFPF 804
$2.17 MX$38.26
260.37%
Potato (1kg)
$3.06 CFPF 314
$1.88 MX$33.23
62.77%
Onion (1kg)
$2.71 CFPF 279
$2.25 MX$39.65
20.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.83 CFPF 393
$1.07 MX$18.85
257.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 CFPF 115
$1.07 MX$18.95
4.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.23 CFPF 1,256
$4.15 MX$73.3
194.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$24.86 CFPF 2,554
$10.34 MX$182
140.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.94 CFPF 199
$1.68 MX$29.64
15.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 CFPF 331
$2.48 MX$43.84
30.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Papeete
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.00 CFPF 205
$0.55 MX$9.80
263.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.53 MX$468
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$9.68 CFPF 995
$3.22 MX$56.8
200.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.48 MX$43.80
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.11 MX$54.9
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.60 CFPF 164
$1.26 MX$22.16
26.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.6K CFPF 2.0M
$30.7K MX$541.1K
-36.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.7K CFPF 2.9M
$24.0K MX$424.3K
19.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Papeete
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$184 CFPF 18.9K
$82.5 MX$1,456
123.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.33 CFPF 1,780
$22.29 MX$393
-22.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.9 CFPF 6,355
$30.02 MX$530
106.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Papeete
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.1 CFPF 8,027
$51.4 MX$908
51.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.29 MX$323
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.72 CFPF 1,512
$4.98 MX$88.0
195.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Papeete
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$478 CFPF 49.1K
$200 MX$3,530
138.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,832 CFPF 1.0M
$5,304 MX$93.6K
85.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Papeete
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.0 CFPF 7,911
$35.71 MX$630
115.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$82.6 CFPF 8,486
$39.56 MX$698
108.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.6 CFPF 7,865
$80.6 MX$1,422
-4.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7 CFPF 9,521
$88.3 MX$1,559
4.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Papeete
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 CFPF 124.1K
$969 MX$17.1K
24.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$982 CFPF 100.9K
$482 MX$8,511
103.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,935 CFPF 198.8K
$1,595 MX$28.2K
21.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,563 CFPF 160.5K
$1,184 MX$20.9K
32.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,539 CFPF 877.3K
$4,050 MX$71.5K
110.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,368 CFPF 654.2K
$6,522 MX$115.1K
-2.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Papeete
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,418 CFPF 248.4K
$756 MX$13.4K
219.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6
11.42
-47.46%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Papeete: March 2, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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