🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,337 in Belvaux.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $788 in Belvaux.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $239 in Belvaux.
🙂Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 4% less than in Belvaux, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 4% below, Belvaux is 0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Belvaux
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
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Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
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Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
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Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
-
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Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
-
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Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
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Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
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Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
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🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Belvaux
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
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White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
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-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
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Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
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-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
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-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
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Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
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Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
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Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
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Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
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Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
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Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
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-
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
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Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
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Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
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Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
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Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
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Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
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Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
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🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Belvaux
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
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Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
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Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
-
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Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
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Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
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Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
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Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
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🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Belvaux
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
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-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$35.04€29.99
-35.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$91.1€78.0
-67.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Belvaux
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$40.04€34.28
29.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
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Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
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🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Belvaux
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
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-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
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👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Belvaux
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
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Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
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Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
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Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
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🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Belvaux
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
-
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1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$1,172€1,003
-60.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
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Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
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Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
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💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Belvaux
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$6,095€5,218
-88.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
0
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CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Last update for Belvaux: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Belvaux pays 746% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
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 Belvaux: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Belvaux?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Belvaux. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or Belvaux?
On paper, Belvaux earns 746% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or Belvaux?
At $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,337 in Belvaux, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Belvaux. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Belvaux?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,287 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Belvaux?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Belvaux are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Belvaux. 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