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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $523 in Abyek, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $835 in Abyek, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,147 in Abyek, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 146% more than Abyek, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Abyek are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 4% lower, Abyek 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.94 MX$209

$3.93 $3.93

203.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.75 MX$748

$17.05 $17.05

150.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.59 MX$185

$4.52 $4.52

134.29%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.64 $0.64

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 $1.06

Cappuccino

$3.62 MX$63.4

$1.16 $1.16

212.07%

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

$1.47 MX$25.69

$0.42 $0.42

250.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 MX$16.51

$0.99 $0.99

-5.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 MX$54.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 MX$78.0

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.94

$0.60 $0.60

138.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.97

$0.52 $0.52

261.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 MX$28.50

$1.94 $1.94

-15.98%

Eggs

$2.64 MX$46.26

$1.18 $1.18

123.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.21 MX$144

$3.38 $3.38

142.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$145

$3.33 $3.33

148.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.10 MX$194

$10.19 $10.19

8.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 MX$46.40

$0.85 $0.85

211.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$26.26

$1.35 $1.35

11.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.79

$0.86 $0.86

131.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.33

$0.54 $0.54

285.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 MX$31.29

$0.51 $0.51

250.98%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$38.09

$0.46 $0.46

373.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MX$18.84

$0.58 $0.58

86.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 MX$18.15

$0.23 $0.23

352.17%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.01 $1.01

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 $0.46

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 $1.36

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.97 MX$69.5

$2.16 $2.16

83.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.20 MX$179

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.22

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 MX$43.71

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 MX$9.07

$0.18 $0.18

188.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.97 MX$472

$10.19 $10.19

164.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 MX$55.0

$0.36 $0.36

772.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$42.04

$0.27 $0.27

788.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 MX$54.0

$2.03 $2.03

52.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 MX$22.28

$0.72 $0.72

76.39%

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

$30.9K MX$540.4K

$73.0K $73.0K

-57.72%

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

$23.3K MX$408.0K

$55.8K $55.8K

-58.25%

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

$82.0 MX$1,435

$16.02 $16.02

411.92%

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

$22.45 MX$393

$2.14 $2.14

949.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.66 MX$519

$5.78 $5.78

413.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 MX$908

$15.92 $15.92

225.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$327

$12.26 $12.26

52.28%

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 MX$87.0

$1.48 $1.48

235.81%

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

$198 MX$3,462

$114 $114

73.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,273 MX$92.3K

$2,007 $2,007

162.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.34 MX$636

$22.16 $22.16

63.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.05 MX$701

$24.93 $24.93

60.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 MX$1,398

$111 $111

-28.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,555

$69.0 $69.0

28.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$963 MX$16.9K

$280 $280

244.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MX$8,133

$197 $197

135.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,596 MX$27.9K

$627 $627

154.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 MX$21.2K

$322 $322

275.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,942 MX$69.0K

$1,080 $1,080

265.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,448 MX$112.8K

$624 $624

933.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$720 MX$12.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

22.24

-48.65%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Last update for Abyek: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $280 in Abyek. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $17.00 in Abyek. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $107 – making Abyek the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, $523 in Abyek – roughly 146% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $785 in Abyek. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Abyek, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $198 per month in Playa del Carmen and $114 in Abyek. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 134% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Abyek, where all-in costs run around $523, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Abyek it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $523 in Abyek to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Abyek. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.