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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $943 per month in Pasaje vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,473 per month in Pasaje vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,003 per month in Pasaje vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Pasaje is about 25% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Pasaje and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Pasaje 29% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.43 $3.43

$11.72 MX$203

-70.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.66 $47.66

$41.89 MX$725

13.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.80 $7.80

$10.51 MX$182

-25.78%

Cappuccino

$2.52 $2.52

$3.59 MX$62.0

-29.81%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.51 MX$26.10

-43.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 $0.62

$0.92 MX$15.83

-32.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.96 MX$51.2

-0.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 $4.53

$4.41 MX$76.3

2.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.40 MX$24.16

-22.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.88 MX$32.60

-5.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.56 MX$26.97

8.97%

Eggs

$2.51 $2.51

$2.61 MX$45.14

-3.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.88 $5.88

$8.32 MX$144

-29.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$8.35 MX$145

-38.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$10.86 MX$188

-43.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.71 MX$46.93

-21.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.51 MX$26.04

-27.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.87 MX$32.41

-43.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 $1.03

$2.19 MX$37.89

-52.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.86 MX$32.14

-2.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$2.23 MX$38.59

-35.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 $0.70

$1.07 MX$18.48

-34.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.09 MX$18.79

-10.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.11 $6.11

$4.19 MX$72.4

45.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.78 $11.78

$10.43 MX$180

12.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.66 MX$28.68

-3.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.61 MX$45.19

-16.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 $0.33

$0.54 MX$9.37

-38.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.36 $24.36

$26.16 MX$453

-6.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.08 MX$53.3

-12.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 $0.99

$2.40 MX$41.61

-58.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.84 $9.84

$3.13 MX$54.1

214.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 $0.63

$1.31 MX$22.69

-51.91%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.7K $24.7K

$29.8K MX$515.7K

-17.18%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.8K $28.8K

$23.3K MX$403.5K

23.44%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$37.32 $37.32

$81.3 MX$1,406

-54.08%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.83 $13.83

$22.56 MX$390

-38.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.17 $32.17

$30.05 MX$520

7.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.81 $29.81

$52.9 MX$915

-43.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.70 $14.70

$18.39 MX$318

-20.07%

Cinema Ticket

$7.91 $7.91

$4.92 MX$85.1

60.77%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$315 $315

$201 MX$3,474

56.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,840 $5,840

$5,175 MX$89.5K

12.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.7 $52.7

$35.92 MX$622

46.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.43 $43.43

$40.13 MX$694

8.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$79.7 MX$1,379

27.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$86.5 MX$1,496

30.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$342 $342

$978 MX$16.9K

-64.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$319 $319

$470 MX$8,140

-32.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 $613

$1,651 MX$28.6K

-62.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$488 $488

$1,203 MX$20.8K

-59.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,309 $1,309

$3,953 MX$68.4K

-66.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$713 $713

$6,607 MX$114.3K

-89.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$677 MX$11.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.35

11.42

-18.13%

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

Last update for Pasaje: July 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $342 in Pasaje versus $978 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Pasaje versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Pasaje vs $252 in Playa del Carmen – so Pasaje 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

Pasaje vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen costs about 34% more than Pasaje, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,415 per month in Pasaje and $1,890 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pasaje, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Pasaje and $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $943 in Pasaje and $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Pasaje, where all-in costs run around $943, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Pasaje it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Pasaje costs $943 versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Pasaje. 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.