😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $978 in Beau Vallon.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,126 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,604 in Beau Vallon.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,980 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,230 in Beau Vallon.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 30% more expensive than Beau Vallon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen5% lower, Beau Vallon27% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Beau Vallon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87MX$204
$6.48MUR 305
83.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$736
$44.66MUR 2,103
-3.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$183
$6.47MUR 305
64.61%
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$59.2
$2.65MUR 125
30.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$25.81
$1.03MUR 48.47
45.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.28
$0.55MUR 26.06
72.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$51.9
$2.16MUR 102
40.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$79.1
$2.68MUR 126
72.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Beau Vallon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.61
$1.50MUR 70.5
-8.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$31.70
$0.65MUR 30.71
184.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.65
$1.32MUR 62.0
21.97%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.51
$2.35MUR 111
10.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$142
$9.99MUR 471
-17.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$144
$6.11MUR 288
36.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$183
$10.59MUR 499
0.66%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.12
$1.97MUR 92.8
33.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.53
$1.98MUR 93.1
-24.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$32.94
$1.45MUR 68.4
32.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.81
$2.71MUR 127
-22.88%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$31.88
$0.99MUR 46.39
87.88%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.81
$0.95MUR 44.57
137.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.23
$0.85MUR 40.22
24.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.67
$0.58MUR 27.10
87.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$71.2
$6.03MUR 284
-31.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$178
$9.03MUR 425
15.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.59
$1.78MUR 83.7
-3.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$44.85
$2.20MUR 104
18.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Beau Vallon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.30
$1.05MUR 49.41
-48.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$462
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$53.7
$4.47MUR 210
-29.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.09
$2.74MUR 129
-8.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$54.1
$15.11MUR 711
-79.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$21.88
$1.40MUR 66.0
-9.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KMX$521.3K
$35.6KMUR 1.7M
-14.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$404.5K
$28.9KMUR 1.4M
-18.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Beau Vallon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0MX$1,425
$49.27MUR 2,320
68.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$390
$18.63MUR 877
21.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$506
$32.82MUR 1,545
-10.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Beau Vallon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$875
$38.87MUR 1,830
31.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$315
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$84.5
$5.89MUR 277
-16.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Beau Vallon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,386
$156MUR 7,336
26.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$90.6K
$3,906MUR 183.9K
35.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Beau Vallon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$633
$50.2MUR 2,364
-26.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$685
$43.61MUR 2,054
-8.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,373
$83.6MUR 3,936
-4.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,536
$79.5MUR 3,743
12.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Beau Vallon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.4K
$522MUR 24.6K
83.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,189
$355MUR 16.7K
34.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.3K
$961MUR 45.3K
71.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.0K
$729MUR 34.3K
68.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$67.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$110.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Beau Vallon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$11.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
6.25
82.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Last update for Beau Vallon: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $956 in Playa del Carmen and $522 in Beau Vallon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $45.00 in Beau Vallon. Groceries flip the comparison at $250 vs $216, with Beau Vallon cheaper for home cooking.
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 Beau Vallon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Beau Vallon cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Beau Vallon is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 30% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,906 in Playa del Carmen and $1,467 in Beau Vallon 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.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Beau Vallon?
Rent for a central apartment: $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $522 in Beau Vallon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Beau Vallon?
Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Beau Vallon?
All in, you'll spend $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $978 in Beau Vallon – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Beau Vallon?
At $978 in Beau Vallon versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Beau Vallon but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Beau Vallon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Beau Vallon more family-friendly?
For families, Beau Vallon 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.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Beau Vallon?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Beau Vallon are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Beau Vallon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% 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