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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,305 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $326 in Bakau, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $719 in Bakau, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,362 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,113 in Bakau, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 300% more than Bakau, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Playa del Carmen and Bakau are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Bakau 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.96 MX$202

$5.45 GMD 398

119.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.38 MX$800

$78.0 GMD 5,691

-39.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.75 MX$198

$8.34 GMD 609

40.89%

Cappuccino

$4.12 MX$69.6

$3.91 GMD 285

5.37%

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

$1.40 MX$23.63

$2.37 GMD 173

-40.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MX$15.40

$1.15 GMD 83.7

-20.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 MX$54.1

$3.70 GMD 270

-13.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.07 MX$119

$3.58 GMD 261

97.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.31

$2.50 GMD 183

-32.80%

White Bread (500g)

$2.15 MX$36.31

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 MX$29.96

Eggs

$2.82 MX$47.54

$5.30 GMD 387

-46.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.20 MX$155

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.23 MX$156

$16.30 GMD 1,190

-43.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.64 MX$213

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MX$49.83

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 MX$26.66

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 MX$37.53

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$39.90

Potato (1kg)

$1.99 MX$33.65

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 MX$33.42

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 MX$20.94

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 MX$20.46

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.60 MX$77.7

Wine (Bottle)

$10.52 MX$178

$13.49 GMD 985

-22.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 MX$28.56

$2.01 GMD 147

-15.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 MX$46.84

$2.67 GMD 195

3.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.17

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$502

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.24 MX$88.4

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.65 MX$61.6

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 MX$97.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$25.97

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

$22.8K MX$385.0K

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

$25.8K MX$435.8K

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

$90.7 MX$1,531

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

$25.19 MX$425

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.75 MX$536

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 MX$1,162

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$496

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$82.1

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

$226 MX$3,811

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,194 MX$70.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.38 MX$800

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.45 MX$734

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.2 MX$1,355

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.4 MX$1,543

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,086 MX$18.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$409 MX$6,900

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,972 MX$33.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,281 MX$21.6K

$68.7 GMD 5,012

1766.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,046 MX$68.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,704 MX$113.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$773 MX$13.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Last update for Bakau: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $78.0 in Bakau. Groceries tell a different story – $278 in Playa del Carmen vs $170 in Bakau – so Bakau wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Bakau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen costs about 300% more than Bakau, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,958 per month in Playa del Carmen and $489 in Bakau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,305 in Playa del Carmen and $326 in Bakau. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 63% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bakau, where all-in costs run around $326, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Bakau it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bakau costs $326 versus $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Bakau. 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.