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

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Pietermaritzburg is 31.8% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 16.8% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Pietermaritzburg is 1.6% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 30.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pietermaritzburg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8 RΒ 142
$11.99 MX$227
-33.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.14 RΒ 767
$42.47 MX$803
1.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.62 RΒ 100
$10.47 MX$198
-46.32%
Cappuccino
$2.2 RΒ 39.19
$3.6 MX$68.2
-38.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 RΒ 15.49
$1.44 MX$27.16
-39.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 RΒ 12.33
$0.89 MX$16.79
-22.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 RΒ 30.08
$3.09 MX$58.5
-45.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 RΒ 42.04
$4.58 MX$86.6
-48.47%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Pietermaritzburg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 RΒ 18.4
$1.38 MX$26.04
-25.36%
White Bread (500g)
$0.86 RΒ 15.24
$1.85 MX$34.9
-53.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.52 RΒ 27.01
$1.57 MX$29.68
-3.18%
Eggs
$2.25 RΒ 39.95
$2.55 MX$48.3
-11.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.19 RΒ 128
$8.61 MX$163
-16.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.83 RΒ 85.9
$8.54 MX$161
-43.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.1 RΒ 126
$10.98 MX$208
-35.34%
Apples (1kg)
$1.58 RΒ 28.16
$2.72 MX$51.4
-41.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 RΒ 31.5
$1.51 MX$28.57
17.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 RΒ 35.73
$1.88 MX$35.63
6.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.74 RΒ 30.87
$2.19 MX$41.42
-20.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 RΒ 27.17
$1.87 MX$35.3
-18.18%
Onion (1kg)
$1.84 RΒ 32.79
$2.19 MX$41.37
-15.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.24 RΒ 22.07
$1.07 MX$20.23
15.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 RΒ 17.37
$1.09 MX$20.64
-10.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.85 RΒ 50.6
$3.96 MX$74.9
-28.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.31 RΒ 58.9
$8.86 MX$167
-62.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 RΒ 25.76
$1.72 MX$32.53
-15.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.7 RΒ 30.2
$2.61 MX$49.37
-34.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Pietermaritzburg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.67 RΒ 47.54
$0.52 MX$9.74
413.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.3 RΒ 326
$26.59 MX$503
-31.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.63 RΒ 29.01
$3.24 MX$61.2
-49.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.52 RΒ 9.27
$2.38 MX$44.94
-78.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.91 RΒ 69.6
$3.11 MX$58.7
25.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 RΒ 22.13
$1.31 MX$24.85
-5.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4K RΒ 416.2K
$30.3K MX$573K
-22.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.9K RΒ 407.7K
$24K MX$453.6K
-4.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pietermaritzburg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$230 RΒ 4,094
$84.2 MX$1,592
173.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.34 RΒ 540
$22.14 MX$419
37.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.9 RΒ 1,012
$30.14 MX$570
88.72%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Pietermaritzburg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.89 RΒ 674
$52 MX$983
-27.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.72 MX$354
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.12 RΒ 91
$5.07 MX$95.9
0.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pietermaritzburg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$150 RΒ 2,666
$200 MX$3,787
-25.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,782 RΒ 85K
$5,333 MX$100.8K
-10.33%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Pietermaritzburg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.7 RΒ 1,097
$35.74 MX$676
72.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.2 RΒ 679
$39.8 MX$753
-4.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$181 RΒ 3,222
$79 MX$1,493
129.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.1 RΒ 1,354
$88.4 MX$1,671
-13.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pietermaritzburg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$209 RΒ 3,716
$965 MX$18.3K
-78.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$190 RΒ 3,376
$474 MX$8,968
-59.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$513 RΒ 9,129
$1,653 MX$31.2K
-68.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$386 RΒ 6,863
$1,202 MX$22.7K
-67.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$719 RΒ 12.8K
$3,081 MX$58.3K
-76.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$416 RΒ 7,405
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-94.47%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Pietermaritzburg
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$862 RΒ 15.3K
$792 MX$15K
8.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.5
11.42
0.70%

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

Last update for Pietermaritzburg: October 29, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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