🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,266 in Beau Vallon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,374 in Beau Vallon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,374 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,483 in Beau Vallon.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 43% less than in Beau Vallon, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Beau Vallon is 65% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Beau Vallon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.71MX$198
$13.37SCR 191
-12.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.59MX$787
$54.2SCR 777
-14.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65MX$197
$6.92SCR 99.2
68.35%
Cappuccino
$4.09MX$69.2
$5.08SCR 72.7
-19.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37MX$23.23
$1.55SCR 22.15
-11.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83MX$14.09
$1.09SCR 15.59
-23.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.35MX$56.7
$10.05SCR 144
-66.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91MX$117
$5.87SCR 84.1
17.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Beau Vallon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73MX$29.19
$2.39SCR 34.24
-27.62%
White Bread(500g)
$2.26MX$38.20
$1.86SCR 26.70
21.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$29.90
$2.93SCR 41.96
-39.59%
Eggs
$2.73MX$46.18
$5.20SCR 74.4
-47.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.18MX$155
$15.71SCR 225
-41.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.92MX$151
$8.55SCR 122
4.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.60MX$213
$10.35SCR 148
21.74%
Apples(1kg)
$3.02MX$51.1
$2.83SCR 40.54
6.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57MX$26.54
$2.88SCR 41.30
-45.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13MX$35.92
$2.04SCR 29.23
4.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.27
$13.90SCR 199
-83.74%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00MX$33.87
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$2.06MX$34.89
$1.20SCR 17.16
71.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18MX$19.94
$2.08SCR 29.77
-43.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.35
$1.07SCR 15.28
12.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.63MX$78.3
$22.41SCR 321
-79.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.69MX$181
$10.69SCR 153
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.37
$3.55SCR 50.9
-54.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$48.69
$4.25SCR 60.8
-32.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Beau Vallon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.57MX$9.69
$0.71SCR 10.13
-19.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.83MX$504
$14.66SCR 210
103.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$92.1
$29.09SCR 417
-81.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.70MX$62.6
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.98MX$101
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.25
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3KMX$377.3K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9KMX$438.5K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Beau Vallon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.1MX$1,506
$193SCR 2,759
-53.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.04MX$423
$41.89SCR 600
-40.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.50MX$532
$106SCR 1,522
-70.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Beau Vallon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.8MX$1,145
$180SCR 2,571
-62.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.92MX$489
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.05MX$85.3
$14.36SCR 206
-64.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Beau Vallon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$225MX$3,802
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,222MX$71.4K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Beau Vallon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.44MX$802
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98MX$760
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.0MX$1,386
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1MX$1,556
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Beau Vallon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,069MX$18.1K
$1,135SCR 16.3K
-5.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$405MX$6,850
$1,036SCR 14.8K
-60.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,935MX$32.7K
$2,230SCR 31.9K
-13.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,301MX$22.0K
$1,901SCR 27.2K
-31.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,995MX$67.5K
$1,250SCR 17.9K
219.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,626MX$112.0K
$626SCR 8,963
958.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Beau Vallon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$749MX$12.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
0
-
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 Beau Vallon: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen and $1,135 in Beau Vallon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $54.0 in Beau Vallon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $376 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
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 Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 75% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,940 in Playa del Carmen and $3,399 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: $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,135 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 in Beau Vallon?
Supermarket bills run roughly 36% higher in Beau Vallon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Beau Vallon?
All in, you'll spend $1,293 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,266 in Beau Vallon – a 75% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Beau Vallon?
At $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,266 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 75% less than in Beau Vallon. 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