😐A single person spends $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $980 in Belle Rose, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,126 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,591 in Belle Rose, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,980 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,202 in Belle Rose, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 30% more than Belle Rose, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Belle Rose are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Belle Rose27% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Belle Rose
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87MX$205
$6.65MUR 313
78.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$741
$44.26MUR 2,084
-3.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$184
$6.51MUR 307
63.59%
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$59.6
$2.68MUR 126
28.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$25.99
$1.04MUR 48.77
44.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.40
$0.55MUR 25.96
72.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.3
$2.13MUR 100
42.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$79.7
$2.69MUR 127
71.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Belle Rose
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.78
$1.46MUR 68.8
-5.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$31.93
$0.69MUR 32.53
168.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.84
$1.27MUR 59.7
26.77%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.82
$2.35MUR 111
10.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$143
$10.14MUR 477
-18.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$145
$6.17MUR 291
35.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$184
$10.60MUR 499
0.57%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.44
$2.06MUR 97.1
27.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.71
$1.99MUR 93.7
-25.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$33.18
$1.49MUR 70.0
28.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.06
$2.69MUR 127
-22.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.10
$1.01MUR 47.62
84.16%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$39.09
$0.98MUR 46.33
130.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.36
$0.81MUR 38.07
30.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.80
$0.56MUR 26.52
94.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$71.7
$6.12MUR 288
-32.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$180
$9.47MUR 446
9.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.80
$1.75MUR 82.2
-1.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.16
$2.09MUR 98.5
24.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Belle Rose
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.36
$1.03MUR 48.63
-47.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$466
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.1
$4.50MUR 212
-30.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.39
$2.72MUR 128
-7.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$54.4
$15.53MUR 731
-79.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.04
$1.40MUR 66.0
-9.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KMX$525.0K
$35.9KMUR 1.7M
-15.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$407.3K
$28.4KMUR 1.3M
-16.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Belle Rose
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0MX$1,435
$49.83MUR 2,346
66.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$393
$18.64MUR 878
21.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$509
$32.77MUR 1,543
-10.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Belle Rose
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$882
$38.68MUR 1,821
31.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$317
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$85.1
$6.16MUR 290
-19.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Belle Rose
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,410
$153MUR 7,212
28.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$91.3K
$3,991MUR 187.9K
32.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Belle Rose
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$638
$50.9MUR 2,399
-27.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$690
$44.76MUR 2,108
-10.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,383
$82.0MUR 3,863
-2.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,546
$79.2MUR 3,727
13.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Belle Rose
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.5K
$511MUR 24.1K
87.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,246
$347MUR 16.3K
37.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.5K
$931MUR 43.9K
76.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.2K
$732MUR 34.5K
67.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$67.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$111.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Belle Rose
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$11.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
6.25
82.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Last update for Belle Rose: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $511 in Belle Rose. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $44.00 in Belle Rose. Groceries tell a different story – $250 in Playa del Carmen vs $218 in Belle Rose – so Belle Rose wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Belle Rose: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Belle Rose cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 30%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,906 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,470 in Belle Rose. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Belle Rose, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or Belle Rose?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen and $44.00 in Belle Rose. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Belle Rose?
Groceries cost about 15% 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.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Belle Rose?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Belle Rose, where all-in costs run around $980, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Belle Rose it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Belle Rose more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Belle Rose – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Belle Rose?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Belle Rose. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared