🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,171 in Paszto versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,789 in Paszto versus $2,126 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,407 in Paszto versus $2,980 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Paszto costs roughly 8% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Paszto13% lower, Playa del Carmen5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Paszto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.46Ft 3,469
$11.87MX$204
-3.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.27Ft 14.9K
$42.90MX$736
14.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.09Ft 2,447
$10.65MX$183
-24.04%
Cappuccino
$2.49Ft 753
$3.45MX$59.2
-27.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41Ft 428
$1.50MX$25.81
-6.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98Ft 296
$0.95MX$16.28
3.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.67Ft 807
$3.03MX$51.9
-11.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55Ft 771
$4.61MX$79.1
-44.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Paszto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.07Ft 323
$1.38MX$23.61
-22.46%
White Bread(500g)
$1.54Ft 464
$1.85MX$31.70
-16.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.79Ft 540
$1.61MX$27.65
11.18%
Eggs
$2.85Ft 862
$2.59MX$44.51
10.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.50Ft 2,873
$8.26MX$142
15.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.66Ft 1,713
$8.37MX$144
-32.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.08Ft 3,351
$10.66MX$183
3.94%
Apples(1kg)
$2.23Ft 676
$2.63MX$45.12
-15.21%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01Ft 609
$1.49MX$25.53
34.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.07Ft 628
$1.92MX$32.94
7.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.11Ft 1,244
$2.09MX$35.81
96.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.34Ft 406
$1.86MX$31.88
-27.96%
Onion(1kg)
$1.29Ft 389
$2.26MX$38.81
-42.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48Ft 449
$1.06MX$18.23
39.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50Ft 151
$1.09MX$18.67
-54.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.30Ft 2,209
$4.15MX$71.2
75.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.80Ft 1,452
$10.39MX$178
-53.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11Ft 335
$1.72MX$29.59
-35.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25Ft 380
$2.61MX$44.85
-52.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Paszto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.16Ft 352
$0.54MX$9.30
114.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$24.67Ft 7,464
$26.94MX$462
-8.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.82Ft 854
$3.13MX$53.7
-9.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.16Ft 350
$2.51MX$43.09
-53.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.56Ft 5,314
$3.15MX$54.1
457.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.77Ft 535
$1.27MX$21.88
39.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.1KFt 9.7M
$30.4KMX$521.3K
5.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KFt 10.8M
$23.6KMX$404.5K
51.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Paszto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$144Ft 43.6K
$83.0MX$1,425
73.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.44Ft 8,909
$22.71MX$390
29.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.15Ft 7,307
$29.46MX$506
-18.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Paszto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.28Ft 14.3K
$51.0MX$875
-7.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.48Ft 4,987
$18.33MX$315
-10.09%
Cinema Ticket
$7.79Ft 2,357
$4.93MX$84.5
58.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Paszto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$462Ft 139.9K
$197MX$3,386
134.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,748Ft 2.0M
$5,280MX$90.6K
27.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Paszto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.9Ft 27.5K
$36.90MX$633
146.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.39Ft 7,682
$39.89MX$685
-36.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.5Ft 28.3K
$80.0MX$1,373
16.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105Ft 31.8K
$89.5MX$1,536
17.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Paszto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$450Ft 136.2K
$956MX$16.4K
-52.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$343Ft 103.9K
$477MX$8,189
-28.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$627Ft 189.8K
$1,646MX$28.3K
-61.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$523Ft 158.3K
$1,225MX$21.0K
-57.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,691Ft 1.1M
$3,918MX$67.2K
-5.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,322Ft 702.6K
$6,459MX$110.9K
-64.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Paszto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$792Ft 239.7K
$667MX$11.4K
18.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8
11.42
-29.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Paszto: June 8, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $450 in Paszto and $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Paszto pays 19% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $49.00 in Paszto vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $223 vs $250, with Paszto 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
Paszto vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Paszto or Playa del Carmen?
Paszto wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Paszto the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Paszto or Playa del Carmen?
Paszto pays 19% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Paszto vs Playa del Carmen?
Rent for a central apartment: $450 in Paszto versus $956 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Paszto vs Playa del Carmen?
Dining out is cheaper in Paszto – a meal for two runs $49.00 versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Paszto compared to Playa del Carmen?
All in, you'll spend $1,171 per month in Paszto versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Paszto or Playa del Carmen?
At $1,171 in Paszto versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Paszto but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Paszto the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Paszto or Playa del Carmen?
Both work as nomad bases, but Paszto delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,171 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Paszto hard to pass up.
How safe is Paszto compared to Playa del Carmen?
Safety-wise, Paszto 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Paszto gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.