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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $885 in Ballasalla.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,238 in Ballasalla.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,374 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,591 in Ballasalla.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 46% more expensive than in Ballasalla, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Ballasalla 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.71 MX$198

$16.38 IMP 12.12

-28.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.59 MX$786

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.65 MX$197

$11.67 IMP 8.64

-0.17%

Cappuccino

$4.09 MX$69.1

$8.30 IMP 6.14

-50.72%

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

$1.37 MX$23.20

$2.65 IMP 1.96

-48.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 MX$14.07

$2.78 IMP 2.06

-70.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.35 MX$56.6

$5.51 IMP 4.08

-39.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.91 MX$117

$6.21 IMP 4.60

11.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 MX$29.15

White Bread (500g)

$2.26 MX$38.15

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 MX$29.86

Eggs

$2.73 MX$46.12

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.18 MX$155

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.92 MX$151

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.60 MX$213

Apples (1kg)

$3.02 MX$51.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 MX$26.51

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 MX$35.88

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.22

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 MX$33.82

Onion (1kg)

$2.06 MX$34.85

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 MX$19.91

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.32

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.63 MX$78.2

Wine (Bottle)

$10.69 MX$180

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.33

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$48.63

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 MX$9.68

$4.64 IMP 3.43

-87.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.83 MX$503

$66.5 IMP 49.19

-55.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.45 MX$91.9

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.70 MX$62.5

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 MX$101

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 MX$26.22

$1.90 IMP 1.41

-18.42%

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

$22.3K MX$376.8K

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

$25.9K MX$438.0K

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

$89.1 MX$1,504

$273 IMP 202

-67.35%

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

$25.04 MX$423

$40.70 IMP 30.12

-38.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.50 MX$532

$54.3 IMP 40.16

-41.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.8 MX$1,144

$54.5 IMP 40.34

24.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.92 MX$488

$27.30 IMP 20.20

5.93%

Cinema Ticket

$5.05 MX$85.2

$26.94 IMP 19.94

-81.25%

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

$225 MX$3,797

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,222 MX$71.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.44 MX$801

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.98 MX$759

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 MX$1,384

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.1 MX$1,555

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,069 MX$18.0K

$1,263 IMP 935

-15.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$405 MX$6,842

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,935 MX$32.7K

$2,555 IMP 1,891

-24.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,301 MX$22.0K

$2,185 IMP 1,617

-40.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,995 MX$67.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,626 MX$111.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$749 MX$12.6K

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: August 29, 2026

Last update for Ballasalla: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen and $1,263 in Ballasalla. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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 Ballasalla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ballasalla is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear. The 46% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,940 in Playa del Carmen and $1,327 in Ballasalla 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,263 in Ballasalla. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Ballasalla runs roughly 123% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

All in, you'll spend $1,293 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $885 in Ballasalla – a 46% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $885 in Ballasalla versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ballasalla but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Ballasalla the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Ballasalla is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Ballasalla are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ballasalla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.