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: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $888 in Ballasalla.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,259 in Ballasalla.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,631 in Ballasalla.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Ballasalla 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$16.13 IMP 12.02

-27.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$719

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

$11.77 IMP 8.77

-9.60%

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$60.8

$8.10 IMP 6.03

-56.54%

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

$1.51 MX$26.09

$2.62 IMP 1.95

-42.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.82

$2.82 IMP 2.10

-65.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.0

$5.49 IMP 4.09

-46.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

$6.24 IMP 4.65

-28.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.90

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.69

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.29

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.30

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$185

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.00

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.18

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.84

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.88

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.68

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.76

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$17.97

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.60

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.5

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.59

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.50

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

$4.88 IMP 3.64

-89.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$457

$68.8 IMP 51.3

-61.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.4

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.05

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.59

$1.85 IMP 1.38

-29.19%

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

$30.3K MX$523.2K

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

$23.4K MX$404.9K

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

$82.9 MX$1,432

$272 IMP 203

-69.55%

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

$22.22 MX$384

$40.54 IMP 30.21

-45.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$507

$54.5 IMP 40.63

-46.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$892

$53.6 IMP 39.92

-3.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

$27.37 IMP 20.39

-33.07%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.5

$26.70 IMP 19.89

-81.01%

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

$201 MX$3,470

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$638

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$688

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,356

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,505

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.8K

$1,289 IMP 960

-24.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,082

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

$2,547 IMP 1,897

-35.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.1K

$2,176 IMP 1,621

-43.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Ballasalla: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $1,289 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 $1,945 in Playa del Carmen and $1,331 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: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,289 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 160% 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 $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $888 in Ballasalla – a 46% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $888 in Ballasalla versus $1,297 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.