🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,204 in Paszto versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,813 in Paszto versus $2,184 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,422 in Paszto versus $3,082 in Playa del Carmen.
🙂Living in Paszto costs roughly 6% less than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Paszto10% lower, Playa del Carmen4% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Paszto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.44Ft 3,568
$11.94MX$209
-4.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29Ft 15.1K
$42.75MX$748
12.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.97Ft 2,485
$10.59MX$185
-24.74%
Cappuccino
$2.59Ft 808
$3.62MX$63.4
-28.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38Ft 431
$1.47MX$25.69
-6.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94Ft 292
$0.94MX$16.51
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.57Ft 803
$3.09MX$54.1
-16.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54Ft 792
$4.46MX$78.0
-43.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Paszto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12Ft 349
$1.43MX$24.94
-21.68%
White Bread(500g)
$1.52Ft 474
$1.88MX$32.97
-19.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85Ft 578
$1.63MX$28.50
13.50%
Eggs
$2.81Ft 877
$2.64MX$46.26
6.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.30Ft 2,900
$8.21MX$144
13.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.72Ft 1,786
$8.29MX$145
-31.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.11Ft 3,467
$11.10MX$194
0.09%
Apples(1kg)
$2.17Ft 678
$2.65MX$46.40
-18.11%
Banana(1kg)
$2.02Ft 631
$1.50MX$26.26
34.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02Ft 631
$1.99MX$34.79
1.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.34Ft 1,355
$2.08MX$36.33
108.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.34Ft 418
$1.79MX$31.29
-25.14%
Onion(1kg)
$1.32Ft 413
$2.18MX$38.09
-39.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.50Ft 467
$1.08MX$18.84
38.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49Ft 153
$1.04MX$18.15
-52.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.44Ft 2,320
$3.97MX$69.5
87.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.80Ft 1,496
$10.20MX$179
-52.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09Ft 341
$1.73MX$30.22
-36.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19Ft 372
$2.50MX$43.71
-52.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Paszto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.12Ft 349
$0.52MX$9.07
115.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$24.71Ft 7,710
$26.97MX$472
-8.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.86Ft 892
$3.14MX$55.0
-8.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.16Ft 361
$2.40MX$42.04
-51.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.36Ft 5,417
$3.09MX$54.0
461.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.68Ft 525
$1.27MX$22.28
32.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.9KFt 10.0M
$30.9KMX$540.4K
3.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.6KFt 11.4M
$23.3KMX$408.0K
57.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Paszto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145Ft 45.1K
$82.0MX$1,435
76.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.72Ft 9,272
$22.45MX$393
32.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.41Ft 7,617
$29.66MX$519
-17.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Paszto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.25Ft 14.7K
$51.9MX$908
-8.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.74Ft 5,224
$18.67MX$327
-10.34%
Cinema Ticket
$7.71Ft 2,407
$4.97MX$87.0
55.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Paszto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$461Ft 143.9K
$198MX$3,462
133.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,775Ft 2.1M
$5,273MX$92.3K
28.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Paszto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.8Ft 28.3K
$36.34MX$636
149.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.67Ft 8,008
$40.05MX$701
-35.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.7Ft 29.6K
$79.9MX$1,398
18.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104Ft 32.3K
$88.9MX$1,555
16.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Paszto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$438Ft 136.6K
$963MX$16.9K
-54.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$349Ft 108.7K
$465MX$8,133
-25.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$646Ft 201.6K
$1,596MX$27.9K
-59.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$526Ft 164.3K
$1,209MX$21.2K
-56.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,125Ft 974.9K
$3,942MX$69.0K
-20.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,507Ft 782.1K
$6,448MX$112.8K
-61.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Paszto
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$771Ft 240.6K
$720MX$12.6K
7.05%
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: April 28, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $438 in Paszto and $963 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Paszto pays 7% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Paszto vs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries flip the comparison at $224 vs $251, 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 7% 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 7% 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: $438 in Paszto versus $963 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 $48.00 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 $1,204 per month in Paszto versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – a 7% 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 $1,204 in Paszto versus $1,287 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 $1,204 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 7% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.