😐A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,004 in Alexandra, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,566 in Alexandra, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,128 in Alexandra, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 28% more than Alexandra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Alexandra are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen4% lower, Alexandra25% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Alexandra
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$8.65R 145
38.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$33.67R 565
26.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$4.89R 82.0
116.56%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$2.13R 35.64
69.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$0.98R 16.51
50.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$0.81R 13.62
16.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$2.20R 36.98
40.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$2.58R 43.24
72.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Alexandra
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.16R 19.40
23.28%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$1.07R 17.89
75.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$1.62R 27.19
0.62%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$2.39R 40.02
10.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$7.90R 133
3.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$4.69R 78.6
76.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$6.58R 110
68.69%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$1.62R 27.18
63.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$1.48R 24.83
1.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$1.48R 24.74
34.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$1.68R 28.10
23.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$1.31R 21.94
36.64%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$1.18R 19.75
84.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$1.05R 17.69
2.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.90R 15.11
15.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$2.88R 48.30
37.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$5.21R 87.4
95.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$1.32R 22.07
31.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$1.65R 27.64
51.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Alexandra
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$1.67R 28.04
-68.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$1.14R 19.15
175.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$0.95R 16.00
152.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$3.16R 52.9
-2.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$1.24R 20.79
2.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$19.3KR 324.0K
59.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$23.6KR 395.5K
-1.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Alexandra
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$117R 1,966
-30.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$37.94R 636
-40.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$37.95R 636
-21.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Alexandra
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$30.94R 519
67.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$7.45R 125
-33.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Alexandra
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$196R 3,280
1.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$4,290R 71.9K
22.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Alexandra
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$49.79R 835
-27.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$32.67R 548
22.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$88.5R 1,485
-9.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$79.7R 1,337
11.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Alexandra
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$362R 6,069
166.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$335R 5,612
38.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$681R 11.4K
134.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$678R 11.4K
78.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$828R 13.9K
376.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
$646R 10.8K
898.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Alexandra
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$1,731R 29.0K
-58.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
11.51
-0.78%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Última actualización para Alexandra: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $362 in Alexandra. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 140% higher in Alexandra, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $34.00 in Alexandra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $178 – making Alexandra the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Playa del Carmen vs Alexandra: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Alexandra?
Playa del Carmen costs about 28% more than Alexandra, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen vs Alexandra?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,506 in Alexandra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Alexandra?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Alexandra, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Alexandra?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $1,004 in Alexandra. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and Alexandra?
Kindergarten costs $198 per month in Playa del Carmen and $196 in Alexandra. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or Alexandra?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Alexandra, where all-in costs run around $1,004, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Alexandra it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Alexandra?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Alexandra costs $1,004 versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or Alexandra?
If budget matters most, go with Alexandra. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado