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

😐 Solo nomad: Papeete is 58.4% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 84.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Papeete is 82.3% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 49.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Papeete
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.72 CFPF 1,794
$11.61 MX$200
52.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.9 CFPF 8,292
$42.75 MX$738
91.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.36 CFPF 1,251
$10.60 MX$183
16.60%
Cappuccino
$3.88 CFPF 393
$3.59 MX$62.0
8.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34 CFPF 338
$1.45 MX$25.08
130.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 CFPF 286
$0.90 MX$15.50
213.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.97 CFPF 301
$3.03 MX$52.4
-1.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 CFPF 390
$4.56 MX$78.8
-15.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Papeete
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 CFPF 159
$1.45 MX$25.07
8.28%
White Bread (500g)
$0.76 CFPF 77.0
$1.83 MX$31.55
-58.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 CFPF 170
$1.61 MX$27.77
4.35%
Eggs
$6.40 CFPF 648
$2.54 MX$43.82
151.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$26.21 CFPF 2,654
$8.54 MX$148
206.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.60 CFPF 1,681
$8.47 MX$146
95.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$26.57 CFPF 2,690
$10.86 MX$188
144.66%
Apples (1kg)
$5.29 CFPF 535
$2.73 MX$47.13
93.77%
Banana (1kg)
$2.21 CFPF 224
$1.49 MX$25.77
48.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.76 CFPF 583
$1.94 MX$33.55
196.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.55 CFPF 765
$2.16 MX$37.38
249.54%
Potato (1kg)
$3.00 CFPF 303
$1.85 MX$31.88
62.16%
Onion (1kg)
$2.69 CFPF 272
$2.19 MX$37.80
22.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.83 CFPF 388
$1.07 MX$18.52
257.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 CFPF 117
$1.08 MX$18.71
7.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.92 CFPF 1,207
$4.06 MX$70.1
193.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$24.55 CFPF 2,485
$10.46 MX$181
134.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 CFPF 197
$1.65 MX$28.56
18.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22 CFPF 326
$2.55 MX$44.01
26.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Papeete
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.89 CFPF 191
$0.56 MX$9.60
237.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.20 MX$453
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$9.49 CFPF 961
$3.14 MX$54.2
202.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.37 MX$40.96
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.24 MX$56.0
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.60 CFPF 162
$1.31 MX$22.70
22.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K CFPF 1.9M
$30.5K MX$527.4K
-37.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7K CFPF 3.0M
$23.8K MX$411.4K
24.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Papeete
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$184 CFPF 18.6K
$83.1 MX$1,436
120.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.37 CFPF 1,759
$22.15 MX$383
-21.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.0 CFPF 6,280
$29.37 MX$507
111.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Papeete
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.9 CFPF 7,785
$51.2 MX$884
50.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.69 MX$323
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.57 CFPF 1,475
$4.89 MX$84.4
197.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Papeete
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$477 CFPF 48.3K
$199 MX$3,431
140.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,880 CFPF 1.0M
$5,207 MX$89.9K
89.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Papeete
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.5 CFPF 7,948
$35.93 MX$621
118.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$82.1 CFPF 8,309
$39.39 MX$680
108.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.8 CFPF 7,975
$80.3 MX$1,387
-1.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.6 CFPF 9,377
$87.6 MX$1,512
5.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Papeete
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,240 CFPF 125.6K
$963 MX$16.6K
28.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$953 CFPF 96.5K
$482 MX$8,326
97.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,894 CFPF 191.7K
$1,645 MX$28.4K
15.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,524 CFPF 154.3K
$1,192 MX$20.6K
27.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,702 CFPF 881.1K
$3,957 MX$68.3K
119.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,415 CFPF 649.5K
$6,513 MX$112.5K
-1.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Papeete
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,432 CFPF 246.2K
$726 MX$12.5K
234.78%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026

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

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