😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $759 in Bertioga.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,126 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,233 in Bertioga.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,980 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,708 in Bertioga.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 67% more expensive than Bertioga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen5% lower, Bertioga44% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Bertioga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87MX$204
$7.40R$37.47
60.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$736
$32.99R$167
30.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$183
$6.66R$33.71
59.91%
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$59.2
$1.74R$8.82
98.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$25.81
$1.24R$6.26
20.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.28
$0.84R$4.25
13.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$51.9
$1.83R$9.28
65.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$79.1
$2.74R$13.87
68.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Bertioga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.61
$0.79R$4.00
74.68%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$31.70
$1.19R$6.02
55.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.65
$1.19R$6.05
35.29%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.51
$1.18R$5.97
119.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$142
$9.05R$45.84
-8.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$144
$3.16R$16.01
164.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$183
$7.30R$36.96
46.03%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.12
$2.17R$10.99
21.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.53
$0.84R$4.23
77.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$32.94
$0.93R$4.70
106.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.81
$0.92R$4.67
127.17%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$31.88
$0.89R$4.50
108.99%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.81
$0.74R$3.72
205.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.23
$0.52R$2.65
103.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.67
$0.51R$2.60
113.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$71.2
$1.84R$9.33
125.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$178
$4.84R$24.49
114.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.59
$1.36R$6.90
26.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$44.85
$2.06R$10.41
26.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Bertioga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.30
$0.92R$4.66
-41.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$462
$38.37R$194
-29.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$53.7
$1.11R$5.63
181.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.09
$0.58R$2.93
332.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$54.1
$7.82R$39.59
-59.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$21.88
$1.06R$5.39
19.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KMX$521.3K
$22.9KR$115.7K
32.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$404.5K
$28.8KR$145.7K
-18.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Bertioga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0MX$1,425
$52.2R$264
58.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$390
$8.93R$45.19
154.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$506
$15.90R$80.5
85.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Bertioga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$875
$22.79R$115
123.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$315
$21.19R$107
-13.50%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$84.5
$7.26R$36.75
-32.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Bertioga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,386
$72.8R$368
171.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$90.6K
$8,778R$44.4K
-39.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Bertioga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$633
$53.9R$273
-31.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$685
$45.91R$232
-13.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,373
$53.3R$270
50.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,536
$77.5R$392
15.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Bertioga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.4K
$318R$1,612
200.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,189
$219R$1,107
118.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.3K
$586R$2,965
181.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.0K
$427R$2,162
186.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$67.2K
$1,430R$7,241
173.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$110.9K
$1,106R$5,599
484.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Bertioga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$11.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
11.17
2.24%
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 Bertioga: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $956 in Playa del Carmen and $318 in Bertioga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $33.00 in Bertioga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $151 per month, with Bertioga cheaper across the board.
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 Bertioga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bertioga cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Bertioga is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 67% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,906 in Playa del Carmen and $1,138 in Bertioga to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Bertioga?
Rent for a central apartment: $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $318 in Bertioga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Bertioga?
Supermarket bills run roughly 65% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or Bertioga?
Dining out is cheaper in Bertioga – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Bertioga?
At $759 in Bertioga versus $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bertioga but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Bertioga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Bertioga more family-friendly?
For families, Bertioga is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Bertioga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 67% less than in Playa del Carmen. 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