😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $380 in Beira.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Playa del Carmen versus $725 in Beira.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,374 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,070 in Beira.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 240% more expensive than in Beira, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen6% lower, Beira72% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Beira
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.71MX$199
$12.60MZN 796
-7.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.59MX$791
$46.82MZN 2,960
-0.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65MX$198
-
-
Cappuccino
$4.09MX$69.5
$3.19MZN 202
28.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37MX$23.34
$1.20MZN 75.9
14.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83MX$14.16
$1.18MZN 74.9
-29.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.35MX$56.9
$1.30MZN 82.1
157.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91MX$117
$1.99MZN 126
247.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Beira
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73MX$29.33
$1.60MZN 101
8.12%
White Bread(500g)
$2.26MX$38.39
$0.30MZN 18.94
653.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$30.05
$1.57MZN 99.4
12.74%
Eggs
$2.73MX$46.41
$1.83MZN 116
49.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.18MX$156
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.92MX$151
$3.82MZN 241
133.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.60MX$214
$4.59MZN 290
174.51%
Apples(1kg)
$3.02MX$51.3
$2.33MZN 147
29.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57MX$26.68
$2.32MZN 147
-32.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13MX$36.10
$2.29MZN 145
-6.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.46
$1.23MZN 78.0
83.74%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.04
$1.23MZN 77.9
62.60%
Onion(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.06
$0.90MZN 56.9
128.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18MX$20.04
$2.29MZN 145
-48.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.45
$0.68MZN 42.88
76.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.63MX$78.7
$0.91MZN 57.8
408.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.69MX$182
$8.11MZN 513
31.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.50
$1.04MZN 65.6
55.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$48.93
$3.90MZN 247
-26.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Beira
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.57MX$9.74
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.83MX$507
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$92.5
$0.77MZN 48.53
607.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.70MX$62.9
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.98MX$102
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.38
$1.29MZN 81.4
20.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3KMX$379.2K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9KMX$440.7K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Beira
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.1MX$1,514
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.04MX$425
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.50MX$535
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Beira
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.8MX$1,151
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.92MX$491
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.05MX$85.8
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Beira
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$225MX$3,820
$89.5MZN 5,659
151.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,222MX$71.7K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Beira
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.44MX$806
$18.93MZN 1,197
150.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98MX$764
$38.41MZN 2,428
17.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.0MX$1,392
$39.42MZN 2,492
107.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1MX$1,564
$46.62MZN 2,947
97.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Beira
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,069MX$18.2K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$405MX$6,884
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,935MX$32.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,301MX$22.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,995MX$67.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,626MX$112.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Beira
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 Beira: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $47.00 in Beira. Groceries flip the comparison at $277 vs $158, with Beira 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 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 240% in total monthly costs ($1,293 vs $380 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 $1,940 in Playa del Carmen and $570 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 grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 75% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Beira?
All in, you'll spend $1,293 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $380 in Beira – a 240% 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 $380 in Beira versus $1,293 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 240% 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