😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $274 in Beira.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,137 in Playa del Carmen versus $526 in Beira.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,017 in Playa del Carmen versus $779 in Beira.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 359% more expensive than in Beira, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen6% lower, Beira80% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Beira
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$210
$8.05MZN 509
48.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$733
$34.64MZN 2,191
20.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$189
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$61.3
$3.17MZN 201
10.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.41
$1.15MZN 72.6
26.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.52
$0.77MZN 48.55
14.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.7
$1.21MZN 76.8
143.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$79.1
$1.91MZN 121
136.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Beira
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$25.12
$1.65MZN 104
-13.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$32.23
$0.91MZN 57.4
102.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.51
$1.54MZN 97.6
1.95%
Eggs
$2.51MX$44.06
$1.76MZN 112
42.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$145
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$148
$3.11MZN 197
171.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$187
$4.66MZN 295
129.18%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.76
$2.81MZN 178
-7.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.22
$1.93MZN 122
-25.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.41
$1.97MZN 125
-0.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.74
$2.25MZN 143
-7.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.47
$0.93MZN 59.1
98.92%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$38.02
$0.75MZN 47.35
189.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$18.09
$1.30MZN 82.0
-20.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.84
$0.71MZN 44.98
50.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$72.0
$0.96MZN 60.7
327.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$178
$8.21MZN 519
23.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.38
$0.94MZN 59.6
78.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$44.31
$2.81MZN 178
-9.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Beira
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.93
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$457
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.7
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$42.19
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.6
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.17
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$520.9K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$415.0K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Beira
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,439
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$403
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$528
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Beira
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$912
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$325
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$87.3
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Beira
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,463
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$93.6K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Beira
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$624
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$707
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,381
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,560
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Beira
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.6K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,314
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.8K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$71.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$113.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Beira
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Beira: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $35.00 in Beira for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $158 per month, with Beira 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 Beira: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and in Beira?
Playa del Carmen and Beira differ by about 359% in total monthly costs ($1,256 vs $274 including rent). Beira is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Beira?
You'd need roughly $1,884 in Playa del Carmen and $411 in Beira 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.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Beira – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Beira?
All in, you'll spend $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $274 in Beira – a 359% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $274 in Beira versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Beira but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Beira the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Beira?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Playa del Carmen or Beira?
Expats usually find Beira gentler on the wallet – expenses run 359% 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