Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Bella Vista Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Bella Vista

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $191 in Bella Vista, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $307 in Bella Vista, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $422 in Bella Vista, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 561% more than Bella Vista, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Bella Vista are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Bella Vista 86% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 MX$203

$1.94 ₲11.5K

504.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.89 MX$725

$13.28 ₲78.8K

215.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 MX$182

Cappuccino

$3.59 MX$62.0

$2.03 ₲12.0K

76.85%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 MX$26.10

$1.02 ₲6,028

48.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 MX$15.83

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 MX$51.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 MX$76.3

$1.49 ₲8,810

195.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MX$24.16

$0.84 ₲4,970

66.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.60

$0.52 ₲3,068

261.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 MX$26.97

$1.03 ₲6,089

51.46%

Eggs

$2.61 MX$45.14

$2.06 ₲12.2K

26.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.32 MX$144

$6.16 ₲36.5K

35.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.35 MX$145

$3.05 ₲18.1K

173.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 MX$188

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 MX$46.93

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MX$26.04

$0.72 ₲4,250

109.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.41

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.89

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.14

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 MX$38.59

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.48

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.79

$1.02 ₲6,041

6.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.4

$1.03 ₲6,102

306.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.43 MX$180

$4.94 ₲29.3K

111.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 MX$28.68

$0.76 ₲4,511

118.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$45.19

$1.76 ₲10.5K

48.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.37

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 MX$53.3

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.61

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$54.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.69

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.8K MX$515.7K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.3K MX$403.5K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$81.3 MX$1,406

$17.92 ₲106.3K

353.57%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.56 MX$390

$11.95 ₲70.9K

88.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.05 MX$520

$19.64 ₲116.5K

53.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 MX$915

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 MX$85.1

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$201 MX$3,474

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,175 MX$89.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.92 MX$622

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.13 MX$694

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 MX$1,379

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,496

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$978 MX$16.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 MX$8,140

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,651 MX$28.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 MX$20.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$114.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$677 MX$11.7K

$361 ₲2.1M

87.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Last update for Bella Vista: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 87% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $13.00 in Bella Vista. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $93.0 – making Bella Vista the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Bella Vista: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen costs about 561% more than Bella Vista, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $286 in Bella Vista. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $191 in Bella Vista. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 169% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bella Vista, where all-in costs run around $191, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Bella Vista it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bella Vista costs $191 versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bella Vista. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.