😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,077 in Adapazari.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,675 in Adapazari.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,274 in Adapazari.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 20% more expensive than Adapazari, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen4% lower, Adapazari20% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Adapazari
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$7.79₺352
53.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$26.13₺1,180
63.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$7.46₺337
41.96%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$3.20₺144
13.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$1.36₺61.2
8.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$0.53₺24.09
77.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$4.90₺221
-36.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$6.30₺285
-29.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Adapazari
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$0.73₺32.87
95.89%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$0.75₺33.83
150.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$2.82₺127
-42.20%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$1.87₺84.4
41.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$7.58₺342
8.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$3.47₺157
138.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$15.00₺677
-26.00%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$1.61₺72.5
64.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$2.71₺122
-44.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$0.91₺40.85
118.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$1.23₺55.6
69.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$0.53₺23.74
237.74%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$0.59₺26.41
269.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$0.85₺38.40
27.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.57₺25.81
82.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$2.23₺101
78.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$14.19₺641
-28.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$2.61₺118
-33.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$3.29₺149
-24.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Adapazari
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$0.67₺30.37
-22.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
$31.00₺1,399
-13.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$2.14₺96.8
46.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$0.65₺29.17
269.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$7.49₺338
-58.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$1.17₺52.6
8.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$47.1K₺2.1M
-34.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$47.8K₺2.2M
-51.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Adapazari
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$40.89₺1,846
100.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$14.60₺659
53.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$11.61₺524
155.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Adapazari
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$34.25₺1,546
51.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
$12.68₺572
47.24%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$4.91₺222
1.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Adapazari
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$672₺30.3K
-70.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$7,905₺356.8K
-33.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Adapazari
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$53.0₺2,392
-31.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$74.1₺3,346
-45.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$116₺5,255
-31.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$90.3₺4,077
-1.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Adapazari
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$512₺23.1K
88.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$395₺17.8K
17.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$874₺39.4K
82.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$720₺32.5K
67.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$904₺40.8K
336.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
$613₺27.7K
952.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Adapazari
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$877₺39.6K
-17.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
36.83
-68.99%
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 Adapazari: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $512 in Adapazari. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Adapazari pays 22% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $26.00 in Adapazari for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $214 per month, with Adapazari 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
Playa del Carmen vs Adapazari: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and Adapazari?
Playa del Carmen and Adapazari differ by about 20% in total monthly costs ($1,287 vs $1,077 including rent). Adapazari is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Adapazari earns 22% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Adapazari?
Rent for a central apartment: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $512 in Adapazari. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Adapazari – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Adapazari?
All in, you'll spend $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,077 in Adapazari – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,077 in Adapazari versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Adapazari but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Adapazari the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Adapazari?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Playa del Carmen or Adapazari safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Adapazari are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Playa del Carmen or Adapazari?
Expats usually find Adapazari gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared