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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Pembroke versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,821 in Pembroke versus $2,334 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,306 in Pembroke versus $3,362 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Pembroke is roughly 79% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Pembroke is 69% above, Playa del Carmen is 5% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$50.6 BMD 50.6

$11.96 MX$202

322.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$149 BMD 149

$47.38 MX$801

214.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$17.21 BMD 17.21

$11.75 MX$199

46.47%

Cappuccino

$4.61 BMD 4.61

$4.12 MX$69.7

11.89%

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

$3.19 BMD 3.19

$1.40 MX$23.66

127.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 BMD 3.16

$0.91 MX$15.43

247.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.40 BMD 7.40

$3.21 MX$54.2

130.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.26 BMD 9.26

$7.07 MX$120

30.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.51 BMD 4.51

$1.68 MX$28.35

168.45%

White Bread (500g)

$8.52 BMD 8.52

$2.15 MX$36.36

296.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.67 BMD 5.67

$1.77 MX$30.00

220.34%

Eggs

$7.72 BMD 7.72

$2.82 MX$47.60

173.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.79 BMD 18.79

$9.20 MX$156

104.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$23.51 BMD 23.51

$9.23 MX$156

154.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.06 BMD 27.06

$12.64 MX$214

114.08%

Apples (1kg)

$12.71 BMD 12.71

$2.95 MX$49.90

330.85%

Banana (1kg)

$6.52 BMD 6.52

$1.58 MX$26.70

312.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.98 BMD 6.98

$2.22 MX$37.58

214.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.11 BMD 4.11

$2.36 MX$39.96

74.15%

Potato (1kg)

$6.95 BMD 6.95

$1.99 MX$33.70

249.25%

Onion (1kg)

$3.12 BMD 3.12

$1.98 MX$33.47

57.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$6.58 BMD 6.58

$1.24 MX$20.97

430.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.69 BMD 3.69

$1.21 MX$20.48

204.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.83 BMD 17.83

$4.60 MX$77.8

287.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.17 BMD 25.17

$10.52 MX$178

139.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.32 BMD 5.32

$1.69 MX$28.60

214.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 BMD 4.63

$2.77 MX$46.91

67.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.19

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 BMD 133

$29.70 MX$502

346.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.37 BMD 6.37

$5.24 MX$88.5

21.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.54 BMD 2.54

$3.65 MX$61.7

-30.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$69.0 BMD 69.0

$5.78 MX$97.8

1094.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.36 BMD 2.36

$1.54 MX$26.01

53.25%

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

$37.6K BMD 37.6K

$22.8K MX$385.5K

64.97%

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

$41.7K BMD 41.7K

$25.8K MX$436.5K

61.50%

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

$256 BMD 256

$90.7 MX$1,533

182.04%

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

$145 BMD 145

$25.19 MX$426

477.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$163 BMD 163

$31.75 MX$537

414.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.0 BMD 80.0

$68.8 MX$1,163

16.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$497

Cinema Ticket

$13.24 BMD 13.24

$4.86 MX$82.2

172.43%

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

$1,306 BMD 1,306

$226 MX$3,816

478.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.8K BMD 24.8K

$4,194 MX$70.9K

492.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.4 BMD 91.4

$47.38 MX$801

92.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.0 BMD 69.0

$43.45 MX$735

58.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$143 BMD 143

$80.2 MX$1,356

78.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 BMD 129

$91.4 MX$1,545

41.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,823 BMD 3,823

$1,086 MX$18.4K

252.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$409 MX$6,910

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,972 MX$33.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,281 MX$21.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,046 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,704 MX$113.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,101 BMD 8,101

$773 MX$13.1K

947.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.63

11.45

-24.63%

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

Last update for Pembroke: September 6, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,823 in Pembroke and $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pembroke pays 948% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $149 in Pembroke vs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $774 vs $278 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

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

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

Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 79% lower than in Pembroke. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 948% higher in Pembroke, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $3,823 in Pembroke versus $1,086 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,306 in Pembroke versus $226 in Playa del Carmen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 179% higher in Pembroke. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,337 in Pembroke, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Pembroke. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,305 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Pembroke 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.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 79% less than in Pembroke. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.