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: $2,339 in Pembroke versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,925 in Pembroke versus $2,137 in Playa del Carmen.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,512 in Pembroke versus $3,017 in Playa del Carmen.

Living in Pembroke is roughly 86% more expensive than in Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Pembroke is 75% above, Playa del Carmen is 6% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$58.8 BMD 58.8

$11.99 MX$209

390.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$150 BMD 150

$41.78 MX$728

259.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.90 BMD 14.90

$10.75 MX$187

38.60%

Cappuccino

$4.39 BMD 4.39

$3.50 MX$60.9

25.43%

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

$3.36 BMD 3.36

$1.45 MX$25.22

131.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 BMD 2.98

$0.88 MX$15.41

238.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.23 BMD 8.23

$2.95 MX$51.3

178.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.46 BMD 8.46

$4.51 MX$78.6

87.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.40 BMD 4.40

$1.43 MX$24.94

207.69%

White Bread (500g)

$8.93 BMD 8.93

$1.84 MX$31.99

385.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.43 BMD 5.43

$1.57 MX$27.31

245.86%

Eggs

$7.64 BMD 7.64

$2.51 MX$43.74

204.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.73 BMD 11.73

$8.28 MX$144

41.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.12 BMD 24.12

$8.43 MX$147

186.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$31.79 BMD 31.79

$10.68 MX$186

197.66%

Apples (1kg)

$10.29 BMD 10.29

$2.61 MX$45.43

294.25%

Banana (1kg)

$6.27 BMD 6.27

$1.44 MX$25.04

335.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$12.67 BMD 12.67

$1.96 MX$34.16

546.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$11.45 BMD 11.45

$2.09 MX$36.47

447.85%

Potato (1kg)

$8.23 BMD 8.23

$1.85 MX$32.24

344.86%

Onion (1kg)

$5.16 BMD 5.16

$2.17 MX$37.74

137.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$6.09 BMD 6.09

$1.03 MX$17.96

491.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.15 BMD 3.15

$1.07 MX$18.70

194.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.48 BMD 17.48

$4.10 MX$71.4

326.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.78 BMD 24.78

$10.17 MX$177

143.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.46 BMD 5.46

$1.68 MX$29.17

225.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 BMD 4.46

$2.53 MX$43.98

76.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.86 BMD 3.86

$0.51 MX$8.87

656.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.4 BMD 67.4

$26.04 MX$453

158.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.27 BMD 6.27

$3.23 MX$56.3

94.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.41 MX$41.88

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$54.6 BMD 54.6

$3.23 MX$56.2

1591.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.29 BMD 2.29

$1.32 MX$23.00

73.48%

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

$34.5K BMD 34.5K

$29.7K MX$517.1K

16.28%

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

$39.5K BMD 39.5K

$23.7K MX$412.0K

67.12%

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

$232 BMD 232

$82.0 MX$1,428

182.55%

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

$121 BMD 121

$22.95 MX$400

425.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$155 BMD 155

$30.11 MX$524

414.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.2 BMD 79.2

$52.0 MX$905

52.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$323

Cinema Ticket

$13.76 BMD 13.76

$4.98 MX$86.6

176.31%

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

$1,332 BMD 1,332

$197 MX$3,438

574.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.0K BMD 24.0K

$5,336 MX$92.9K

350.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.8 BMD 80.8

$35.60 MX$620

127.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.7 BMD 60.7

$40.33 MX$702

50.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$135 BMD 135

$78.8 MX$1,371

71.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 BMD 128

$88.9 MX$1,549

43.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,822 BMD 3,822

$947 MX$16.5K

303.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,254

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 MX$28.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 MX$21.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,763 BMD 5,763

$4,056 MX$70.6K

42.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$112.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,135 BMD 8,135

$654 MX$11.4K

1144.11%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,822 in Pembroke and $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pembroke pays 1144% 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: $150 in Pembroke vs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $817 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 86% 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 1144% 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: $3,822 in Pembroke versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,332 in Pembroke versus $197 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 228% higher in Pembroke. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,339 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 $1,256 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 86% less than in Pembroke. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.