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 $1,294 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $186 in Bella Vista, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,189 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $303 in Bella Vista, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,084 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $420 in Bella Vista, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 594% 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 3% lower, Bella Vista 86% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$202

$2.03 ₲12.3K

477.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$719

$13.38 ₲81.2K

212.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.41 MX$179

Cappuccino

$3.61 MX$62.1

$2.05 ₲12.4K

76.10%

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

$1.46 MX$25.06

$0.97 ₲5,890

50.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.70

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 MX$50.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.62 MX$79.5

$1.47 ₲8,931

214.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.59

$0.81 ₲4,920

76.54%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 MX$32.70

$0.48 ₲2,890

295.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$26.95

$1.02 ₲6,165

53.92%

Eggs

$2.64 MX$45.34

$2.15 ₲13.1K

22.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.44 MX$145

$6.11 ₲37.1K

38.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.58 MX$148

$3.04 ₲18.5K

182.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.00 MX$189

Apples (1kg)

$2.70 MX$46.51

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MX$25.92

$0.68 ₲4,101

122.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 MX$32.93

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.37

Potato (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.25

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 MX$38.43

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MX$18.60

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.47

$1.03 ₲6,250

3.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.16 MX$71.6

$0.98 ₲5,958

324.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.29 MX$177

$4.90 ₲29.8K

110.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$28.95

$0.83 ₲5,008

102.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$43.59

$1.78 ₲10.8K

42.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 MX$9.53

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.29 MX$452

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.20 MX$55.0

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.46 MX$42.37

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.20 MX$55.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$22.72

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

$30.2K MX$518.8K

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

$23.4K MX$402.5K

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

$81.4 MX$1,400

$17.67 ₲107.2K

360.38%

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

$22.41 MX$386

$11.87 ₲72.0K

88.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.97 MX$516

$19.96 ₲121.1K

50.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$887

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$316

Cinema Ticket

$5.16 MX$88.9

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

$202 MX$3,471

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,311 MX$91.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.61 MX$613

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.37 MX$695

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.6 MX$1,353

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.9 MX$1,495

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$950 MX$16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$478 MX$8,227

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 MX$27.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 MX$21.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,009 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,473 MX$111.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$673 MX$11.6K

$365 ₲2.2M

84.45%

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: June 15, 2026

Last update for Bella Vista: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 84% 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: $254 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 594% 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 $1,941 per month in Playa del Carmen and $280 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 $1,294 in Playa del Carmen and $186 in Bella Vista. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 173% 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 $186, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,294. 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 $186 versus $1,294 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.