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: $2,356 in Pembroke versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,897 in Pembroke versus $2,181 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,439 in Pembroke versus $3,065 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Pembroke is roughly 82% more expensive than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Pembroke is 76% above, Playa del Carmen is 3% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$60.1 BMD 60.1

$11.73 MX$203

411.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$152 BMD 152

$41.62 MX$720

265.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.72 BMD 14.72

$10.64 MX$184

38.35%

Cappuccino

$4.54 BMD 4.54

$3.52 MX$60.9

28.98%

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

$3.51 BMD 3.51

$1.51 MX$26.12

132.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 BMD 2.97

$0.97 MX$16.84

206.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.22 BMD 8.22

$2.95 MX$51.0

178.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.73 BMD 8.73

$4.45 MX$77.0

96.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.34 BMD 4.34

$1.38 MX$23.93

214.49%

White Bread (500g)

$8.66 BMD 8.66

$1.89 MX$32.72

358.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 BMD 5.61

$1.64 MX$28.32

242.07%

Eggs

$7.39 BMD 7.39

$2.51 MX$43.34

194.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.75 BMD 11.75

$8.34 MX$144

40.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.61 BMD 24.61

$8.34 MX$144

195.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$32.66 BMD 32.66

$10.73 MX$186

204.38%

Apples (1kg)

$10.52 BMD 10.52

$2.60 MX$45.04

304.62%

Banana (1kg)

$6.32 BMD 6.32

$1.46 MX$25.20

332.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$12.69 BMD 12.69

$1.90 MX$32.87

567.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$11.37 BMD 11.37

$2.08 MX$35.91

446.63%

Potato (1kg)

$8.44 BMD 8.44

$1.78 MX$30.71

374.16%

Onion (1kg)

$5.17 BMD 5.17

$2.19 MX$37.80

136.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.87 BMD 5.87

$1.04 MX$17.99

464.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.27 BMD 3.27

$1.08 MX$18.62

202.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.65 BMD 17.65

$4.08 MX$70.6

332.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.90 BMD 24.90

$10.32 MX$178

141.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.33 BMD 5.33

$1.71 MX$29.61

211.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 BMD 4.37

$2.58 MX$44.54

69.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.89 BMD 3.89

$0.51 MX$8.81

662.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$69.0 BMD 69.0

$26.46 MX$458

160.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.13 BMD 6.13

$3.26 MX$56.4

88.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.09

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$53.2 BMD 53.2

$3.25 MX$56.2

1537.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.39 BMD 2.39

$1.31 MX$22.61

82.44%

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

$35.0K BMD 35.0K

$30.3K MX$523.7K

15.57%

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

$39.1K BMD 39.1K

$23.4K MX$405.3K

67.07%

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

$235 BMD 235

$82.9 MX$1,433

183.31%

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

$117 BMD 117

$22.22 MX$384

425.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$159 BMD 159

$29.34 MX$507

441.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.7 BMD 80.7

$51.6 MX$893

56.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$13.70 BMD 13.70

$5.07 MX$87.6

170.22%

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

$1,333 BMD 1,333

$201 MX$3,473

564.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.0K BMD 24.0K

$5,212 MX$90.1K

361.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.6 BMD 80.6

$36.92 MX$639

118.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.8 BMD 58.8

$39.79 MX$688

47.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$136 BMD 136

$78.5 MX$1,357

72.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 BMD 128

$87.1 MX$1,506

46.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,708 BMD 3,708

$973 MX$16.8K

281.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,090

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,624 BMD 5,624

$3,946 MX$68.3K

42.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,856 BMD 7,856

$664 MX$11.5K

1083.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.22

11.42

-36.78%

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

Last update for Pembroke: June 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,708 in Pembroke and $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pembroke pays 1083% 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: $152 in Pembroke vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $820 vs $249 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 82% 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.

Pembroke pays 1083% more on average, 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: $3,708 in Pembroke versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,333 in Pembroke versus $201 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 229% higher in Pembroke. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,356 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 $1,297 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 82% less than in Pembroke. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.