😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,330 in Playa del Carmen versus $261 in Begusarai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,336 in Playa del Carmen versus $469 in Begusarai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,341 in Playa del Carmen versus $677 in Begusarai.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 409% more expensive than in Begusarai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen3% lower, Begusarai81% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Begusarai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.02MX$221
$2.11₹202
517.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.25MX$784
$7.30₹699
533.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.59MX$213
$3.07₹294
310.10%
Cappuccino
$4.00MX$67.9
$1.59₹153
151.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42MX$24.08
$0.30₹28.54
373.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81MX$13.73
$0.10₹9.37
710.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.05MX$51.7
$2.00₹191
52.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.82MX$116
$5.83₹558
16.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Begusarai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71MX$29.04
$0.50₹47.94
242.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.22MX$37.62
$0.42₹40.07
428.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.72MX$29.13
$0.54₹51.3
218.52%
Eggs
$2.71MX$45.99
$0.86₹82.3
215.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.37MX$159
$2.03₹195
361.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.86MX$150
$2.26₹216
292.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.78MX$217
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.13MX$53.0
$1.34₹128
133.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55MX$26.24
$0.56₹53.7
176.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.51
$0.85₹81.0
152.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.35MX$39.89
$0.44₹41.82
434.09%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02MX$34.23
$0.22₹21.08
818.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$33.67
$0.32₹30.38
521.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24MX$21.09
$0.22₹21.10
463.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19MX$20.21
$0.28₹27.04
325.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.65MX$78.8
$3.77₹361
23.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.47MX$177
$6.35₹608
64.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58MX$26.82
$1.56₹149
1.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92MX$49.48
$2.04₹195
43.14%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$6.11₹584
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Begusarai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56MX$9.53
$0.27₹25.59
107.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.76MX$504
$7.51₹719
296.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.32MX$90.2
$1.17₹112
354.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.72MX$63.0
$0.16₹15.47
2225.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78MX$97.9
$1.59₹153
263.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.27
$1.09₹105
42.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4KMX$379.1K
$12.4K₹1.2M
79.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6KMX$433.3K
$10.5K₹1.0M
142.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Begusarai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.3MX$1,513
$11.61₹1,111
668.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.30MX$395
$2.36₹226
887.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.72MX$538
$6.24₹597
408.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Begusarai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8MX$1,165
$4.27₹409
1510.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.40MX$498
$6.33₹606
364.45%
Cinema Ticket
$5.06MX$85.7
$1.01₹97.0
400.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Begusarai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$222MX$3,765
$54.3₹5,192
309.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,293MX$72.7K
$627₹60.0K
584.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Begusarai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.21MX$783
$23.37₹2,237
97.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.43MX$753
$25.21₹2,412
76.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.5MX$1,618
$23.94₹2,291
298.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.5MX$1,568
$28.04₹2,684
230.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Begusarai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,069MX$18.1K
$53.2₹5,090
1909.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$393MX$6,663
$36.45₹3,488
978.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,988MX$33.7K
$267₹25.5K
645.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,304MX$22.1K
$164₹15.7K
694.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,037MX$68.4K
$936₹89.6K
331.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,627MX$112.3K
$502₹48.0K
1221.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Begusarai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$747MX$12.7K
$1,065₹101.9K
-29.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.6
9.46
22.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 18, 2026
Last update for Begusarai: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen and $53.2 in Begusarai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Begusarai pays 43% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $7.00 in Begusarai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $78.0 per month, with Begusarai 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 Begusarai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Begusarai cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Begusarai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 409% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Begusarai?
On paper, salaries run 43% lower in Begusarai. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Begusarai?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $53.2 in Begusarai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or in Begusarai?
Dining out is cheaper in Begusarai – a meal for two runs $7.00 versus $46.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Begusarai?
All in, you'll spend $1,330 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $261 in Begusarai – a 409% 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 Begusarai?
At $261 in Begusarai versus $1,330 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Begusarai but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Begusarai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Begusarai more family-friendly?
For families, Begusarai 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Begusarai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 409% 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