🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,742 in Badia Tedalda.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,126 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,661 in Badia Tedalda.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,980 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,579 in Badia Tedalda.
🙂Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 27% less than in Badia Tedalda, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 5% below, Badia Tedalda is 30% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Badia Tedalda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87MX$204
$17.31€14.91
-31.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$736
$74.6€64.3
-42.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$183
$11.63€10.02
-8.43%
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$59.2
$1.99€1.72
73.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$25.81
$3.09€2.66
-51.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.28
$1.37€1.18
-30.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$51.9
$5.65€4.87
-46.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$79.1
$5.32€4.58
-13.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Badia Tedalda
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.61
$1.63€1.40
-15.34%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$31.70
$2.24€1.93
-17.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.65
$2.74€2.36
-41.24%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.51
$4.02€3.46
-35.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$142
$15.78€13.59
-47.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$144
$12.55€10.81
-33.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$183
$19.57€16.86
-45.53%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.12
$2.40€2.07
9.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.53
$2.06€1.77
-27.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$32.94
$2.67€2.30
-28.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.81
$3.24€2.80
-35.49%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$31.88
$1.78€1.53
4.49%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.81
$1.71€1.47
32.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.23
$1.44€1.24
-26.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.67
$0.50€0.43
118.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$71.2
$6.97€6.01
-40.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$178
$7.78€6.71
33.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.59
$1.67€1.44
2.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$44.85
$2.54€2.19
2.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Badia Tedalda
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.30
$1.71€1.47
-68.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$462
$43.04€37.08
-37.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$53.7
$5.78€4.98
-45.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.09
$1.52€1.31
65.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$54.1
$34.38€29.62
-90.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$21.88
$2.07€1.79
-38.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KMX$521.3K
$32.7K€28.1K
-7.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$404.5K
$33.0K€28.5K
-28.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Badia Tedalda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0MX$1,425
$217€187
-61.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$390
$12.90€11.12
76.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$506
$30.73€26.48
-4.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Badia Tedalda
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$875
$55.6€47.93
-8.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$315
$23.05€19.86
-20.48%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$84.5
$10.46€9.01
-52.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Badia Tedalda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,386
$550€474
-64.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$90.6K
$7,895€6,802
-33.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Badia Tedalda
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$633
$85.8€74.0
-57.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$685
$37.65€32.44
5.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,373
$91.7€79.0
-12.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,536
$126€109
-28.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Badia Tedalda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.4K
$742€639
28.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,189
$575€495
-16.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.3K
$1,236€1,065
33.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.0K
$935€806
30.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$67.2K
$2,573€2,217
52.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$110.9K
$2,019€1,739
220.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Badia Tedalda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$11.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
4.45
156.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Last update for Badia Tedalda: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $956 in Playa del Carmen and $742 in Badia Tedalda. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $75.0 in Badia Tedalda for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $335 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
Playa del Carmen vs Badia Tedalda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Badia Tedalda cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 37% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,906 in Playa del Carmen and $2,614 in Badia Tedalda to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Badia Tedalda?
Rent for a central apartment: $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $742 in Badia Tedalda. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 60% less than in Badia Tedalda. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $197 in Playa del Carmen versus $550 in Badia Tedalda. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Badia Tedalda?
At $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,742 in Badia Tedalda, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Badia Tedalda. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Badia Tedalda more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Badia Tedalda, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Badia Tedalda?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Badia Tedalda are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Badia Tedalda. 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