Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Bathurst, Canada

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $1,757 in Bathurst, rent and utilities included – about $6,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Bathurst, Canada
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Bathurst
🇨🇦 Canada
$1,757
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Bathurst

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Bathurst actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,204 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,757 in Bathurst, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Bathurst $1,757

A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,044 in Bathurst, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Bathurst $2,044

A family of three spends $2,959 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,332 in Bathurst, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,959
  • Bathurst $2,332

Playa del Carmen is about 31% cheaper than Bathurst, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Playa del Carmen sits 12% below the global median, while Bathurst is 29% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Bathurst
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.92 MX$203
$15.96 CA$22.32
-31.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.37 MX$805
$43.54 CA$60.9
-0.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 MX$219
$11.73 CA$16.40
0.43%
Cappuccino
$3.81 MX$70.7
$3.48 CA$4.86
9.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$23.81
$2.01 CA$2.82
-36.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 MX$14.54
$1.59 CA$2.22
-50.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.17 MX$58.8
$4.96 CA$6.94
-36.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$91.7
$5.08 CA$7.10
-2.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Bathurst
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.12
$1.72 CA$2.40
-18.02%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$41.17
$2.54 CA$3.55
-12.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 MX$26.32
$2.52 CA$3.53
-43.65%
Eggs
$2.52 MX$46.85
$3.56 CA$4.98
-29.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.26 MX$135
$11.30 CA$15.80
-35.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 MX$143
$9.14 CA$12.78
-15.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 MX$236
$6.35 CA$8.88
99.84%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$51.7
$4.66 CA$6.52
-40.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MX$25.41
$1.59 CA$2.23
-13.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 MX$47.37
$4.78 CA$6.69
-46.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$39.43
$1.91 CA$2.67
10.99%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.00
$2.51 CA$3.51
-22.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.02
$1.55 CA$2.17
21.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$21.29
$2.20 CA$3.08
-47.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 MX$21.89
$1.58 CA$2.21
-25.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 MX$79.8
$9.79 CA$13.69
-56.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.95 MX$185
$11.93 CA$16.68
-16.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$29.41
$3.19 CA$4.46
-50.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 MX$49.60
$4.45 CA$6.22
-40.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Bathurst
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$10.28
$3.47 CA$4.85
-84.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.62 MX$494
$65.3 CA$91.3
-59.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 MX$92.3
$2.77 CA$3.87
79.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.33 MX$61.9
$1.33 CA$1.87
150.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 MX$99.5
$21.83 CA$30.53
-75.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$26.82
$1.24 CA$1.74
16.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K MX$383.8K
$28.8K CA$40.3K
-28.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$435.8K
$21.5K CA$30.1K
9.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Bathurst
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.8 MX$1,575
$104 CA$146
-18.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41 MX$435
$70.1 CA$98.0
-66.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.66 MX$532
$60.9 CA$85.1
-52.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Bathurst
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,059
$44.27 CA$61.9
28.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.91 MX$537
$32.39 CA$45.30
-10.74%
Cinema Ticket
$5.14 MX$95.4
$9.14 CA$12.79
-43.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Bathurst
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,836
$582 CA$814
-64.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,927 MX$72.9K
$1,741 CA$2,435
125.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Bathurst
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.35 MX$805
$50.5 CA$70.6
-14.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.44 MX$770
$39.90 CA$55.8
3.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 MX$1,378
$77.3 CA$108
-3.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 MX$1,657
$81.4 CA$114
9.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Bathurst
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 MX$18.2K
$749 CA$1,048
30.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$381 MX$7,072
$690 CA$966
-44.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 MX$31.7K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 MX$20.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,943 MX$73.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,158 MX$114.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Bathurst
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$735 MX$13.6K
$2,083 CA$2,913
-64.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
4.77
140.04%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Last update for Bathurst: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$381
Bathurst
$690 81.3% $310
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$255
Bathurst
$314 23.3% $59
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$202
Bathurst
$254 25.5% $52
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Bathurst
$235 71.9% $98
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Bathurst
$112 0.3% $0.4
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$67
Bathurst
$63 7.1% $4.8
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Bathurst
$89 75.6% $38

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $980 in Playa del Carmen versus $749 in Bathurst. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Bathurst are about 2.8 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $44 in Bathurst. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $255 vs $314 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇨🇦 Bathurst
🕒 Local time
23:41 11:41 PM
00:41 12:41 AM
1 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
12,157
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 18.57 MXN (100 MXN = 5.38 USD). 1 EUR = 20.81 MXN (100 MXN = 4.8 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.715 USD). 1 EUR = 1.57 CAD (1 CAD = 0.638 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Bathurst 3,560 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Bathurst

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Bathurst: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Bathurst?
Yes – Bathurst is pricier by about 46%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in utilities.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,806 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,636 in Bathurst. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bathurst, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $749 there versus $980 in Playa del Carmen.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 59% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Bathurst?
Groceries cost about 23% more in Bathurst, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Bathurst?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,204, than in Bathurst at $1,757. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bathurst it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is it better to live in Playa del Carmen or in Bathurst?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,204 in Playa del Carmen to $1,757 in Bathurst. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bathurst makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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