Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Beppu Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Beppu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,293 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,093 in Beppu, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,718 in Beppu, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,374 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,344 in Beppu, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 18% more than Beppu, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Beppu are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Beppu 20% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Beppu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.71 MX$198
$6.40 ¥999
82.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.59 MX$787
$23.00 ¥3,594
102.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.65 MX$197
$4.33 ¥676
169.05%
Cappuccino
$4.09 MX$69.2
$3.04 ¥474
34.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 MX$23.23
$1.07 ¥167
28.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 MX$14.09
$0.64 ¥101
29.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.35 MX$56.7
$3.11 ¥486
7.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91 MX$117
$2.25 ¥351
207.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Beppu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 MX$29.19
$1.37 ¥215
26.28%
White Bread (500g)
$2.26 MX$38.20
$1.59 ¥248
42.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 MX$29.90
$4.52 ¥706
-60.84%
Eggs
$2.73 MX$46.18
$1.44 ¥225
89.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.18 MX$155
$8.89 ¥1,389
3.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.92 MX$151
$5.33 ¥833
67.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.60 MX$213
$9.93 ¥1,552
26.89%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 MX$51.1
$3.66 ¥571
-17.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 MX$26.54
$1.78 ¥278
-11.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 MX$35.92
$2.90 ¥453
-26.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.27
$3.31 ¥517
-31.72%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 MX$33.87
$2.20 ¥343
-9.09%
Onion (1kg)
$2.06 MX$34.89
$2.15 ¥336
-4.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 MX$19.94
$1.02 ¥160
15.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$20.35
$0.91 ¥142
31.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.63 MX$78.3
$3.67 ¥574
26.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.69 MX$181
$6.11 ¥954
74.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.37
$1.45 ¥227
11.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$48.69
$1.73 ¥270
66.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Beppu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 MX$9.69
$2.55 ¥398
-77.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.83 MX$504
$56.3 ¥8,789
-46.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 MX$92.1
$3.85 ¥601
41.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.70 MX$62.6
$2.09 ¥326
77.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.98 MX$101
$17.37 ¥2,714
-65.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 MX$26.25
$1.05 ¥164
47.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3K MX$377.3K
$11.3K ¥1.8M
97.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K MX$438.5K
$15.9K ¥2.5M
63.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Beppu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.1 MX$1,506
$147 ¥22.9K
-39.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.04 MX$423
$12.66 ¥1,978
97.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.50 MX$532
$28.36 ¥4,431
11.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Beppu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.8 MX$1,145
$51.4 ¥8,034
31.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.92 MX$489
$3.10 ¥485
832.90%
Cinema Ticket
$5.05 MX$85.3
$6.40 ¥1,000
-21.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Beppu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$225 MX$3,802
$190 ¥29.6K
18.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,222 MX$71.4K
$11.9K ¥1.9M
-64.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Beppu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.44 MX$802
$28.39 ¥4,436
67.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98 MX$760
$21.68 ¥3,387
107.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.0 MX$1,386
$58.3 ¥9,108
40.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1 MX$1,556
$36.97 ¥5,775
149.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Beppu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,069 MX$18.1K
$471 ¥73.6K
126.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$405 MX$6,850
$329 ¥51.4K
23.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,935 MX$32.7K
$1,055 ¥164.8K
83.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,301 MX$22.0K
$740 ¥115.7K
75.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,995 MX$67.5K
$4,052 ¥633.0K
-1.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,626 MX$112.0K
$1,922 ¥300.2K
244.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Beppu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$749 MX$12.7K
$1,320 ¥206.2K
-43.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
1.97
481.22%

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 Beppu: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $471 in Beppu. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 76% higher in Beppu, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $23.00 in Beppu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $243 – making Beppu 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 Beppu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Beppu?
Playa del Carmen costs about 18% more than Beppu, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen and in Beppu?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,940 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,639 in Beppu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Beppu?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Beppu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Beppu?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,293 in Playa del Carmen and $1,093 in Beppu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Playa del Carmen compared to Beppu?
Public transport costs about 89% less in Beppu. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or in Beppu?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Beppu, where all-in costs run around $1,093, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. In Beppu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Beppu?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Beppu costs $1,093 versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Beppu?
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.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or to Beppu?
If budget matters most, go with Beppu. 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.

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