😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $573 in Bakixanov.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $965 in Bakixanov.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,357 in Bakixanov.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 124% more expensive than Bakixanov, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen4% lower, Bakixanov57% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Bakixanov
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$208
$8.73₼14.84
36.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$744
$35.31₼60.0
21.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$184
$5.77₼9.81
83.54%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.0
$2.61₼4.44
38.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.54
$0.61₼1.04
140.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.41
$0.28₼0.47
235.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$53.8
$1.15₼1.95
168.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$77.6
$1.72₼2.92
159.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Bakixanov
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.80
$1.34₼2.28
6.72%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.79
$0.51₼0.86
268.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.34
$2.33₼3.97
-30.04%
Eggs
$2.64MX$45.99
$1.35₼2.29
95.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$143
$5.20₼8.83
57.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$144
$4.70₼7.99
76.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$193
$10.42₼17.72
6.53%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.14
$1.33₼2.26
99.25%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.11
$1.76₼2.99
-14.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.59
$1.53₼2.60
30.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.13
$1.80₼3.05
15.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.11
$0.78₼1.33
129.49%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$37.87
$0.49₼0.83
344.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.73
$0.43₼0.72
151.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.04
$0.65₼1.11
60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.1
$3.48₼5.91
14.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$178
$8.92₼15.16
14.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.04
$1.38₼2.35
25.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.46
$2.82₼4.79
-11.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Bakixanov
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.02
$0.30₼0.51
73.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$469
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$54.7
$2.11₼3.59
48.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.80
$0.56₼0.96
328.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$53.7
$3.45₼5.86
-10.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.16
$0.70₼1.19
81.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$537.3K
$20.6K₼35.0K
50.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$405.7K
$22.6K₼38.4K
3.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Bakixanov
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,427
$61.2₼104
34.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$391
$11.92₼20.27
88.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$516
$15.11₼25.69
96.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Bakixanov
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$903
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$325
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$86.5
$6.04₼10.27
-17.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Bakixanov
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,442
$254₼431
-21.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$91.7K
$6,663₼11.3K
-20.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Bakixanov
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$632
$58.6₼99.6
-37.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$697
$54.6₼92.9
-26.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,390
$122₼208
-34.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,547
$97.9₼166
-9.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Bakixanov
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.8K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,086
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.8K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$68.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Bakixanov
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
8.87
28.75%
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 Bakixanov: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $35.00 in Bakixanov for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $179 per month, with Bakixanov 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 Bakixanov: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and Bakixanov?
Playa del Carmen and Bakixanov differ by about 124% in total monthly costs ($1,287 vs $573 including rent). Bakixanov is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Bakixanov?
You'd need roughly $1,930 in Playa del Carmen and $860 in Bakixanov 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.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 40% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Bakixanov?
All in, you'll spend $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $573 in Bakixanov – a 124% 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 $573 in Bakixanov versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bakixanov but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Bakixanov the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Bakixanov?
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 Bakixanov safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Bakixanov 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 Bakixanov?
Expats usually find Bakixanov gentler on the wallet – expenses run 124% 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