Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Beau Vallon Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Beau Vallon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,329 in Beau Vallon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,093 in Beau Vallon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,857 in Beau Vallon.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 2% less than in Beau Vallon, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Beau Vallon 1% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Beau Vallon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$18.80 SCR 272
-37.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$719
$69.4 SCR 1,005
-40.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
$6.79 SCR 98.3
56.70%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$60.8
$5.74 SCR 83.1
-38.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.09
$1.57 SCR 22.72
-3.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.82
$1.08 SCR 15.67
-10.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.0
$9.76 SCR 141
-69.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.0
$5.20 SCR 75.3
-14.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Beau Vallon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.90
$2.58 SCR 37.37
-46.51%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.69
$1.46 SCR 21.12
29.45%
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
$6.10 SCR 88.3
36.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$185
$5.96 SCR 86.2
80.03%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.00
$1.96 SCR 28.32
32.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.18
$2.06 SCR 29.81
-29.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.84
$1.98 SCR 28.65
-4.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.88
$9.92 SCR 144
-79.03%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.68
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.76
$1.03 SCR 14.91
112.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$17.97
$2.06 SCR 29.79
-49.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.60
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.5
$30.52 SCR 442
-86.63%
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
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Beau Vallon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.81
$0.91 SCR 13.21
-43.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$457
-
-
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
-
-
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
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Beau Vallon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,432
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$384
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$507
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Beau Vallon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$892
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.5
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Beau Vallon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,470
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.1K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Beau Vallon
Difference
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
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Beau Vallon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.8K
$1,233 SCR 17.8K
-21.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,082
$802 SCR 11.6K
-41.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
$2,196 SCR 31.8K
-25.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.1K
$1,404 SCR 20.3K
-13.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.2K
$1,371 SCR 19.8K
187.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.3K
$694 SCR 10.0K
836.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Beau Vallon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
0
-

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 Beau Vallon: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $1,233 in Beau Vallon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $69.0 in Beau Vallon. Groceries flip the comparison at $249 vs $179, 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?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,945 in Playa del Carmen and $1,994 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: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,233 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?
Shoppers in Beau Vallon pay roughly 39% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or Beau Vallon?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $69.0 in Beau Vallon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Beau Vallon?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,329 in Beau Vallon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Beau Vallon. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Beau Vallon more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Beau Vallon, 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 Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Beau Vallon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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