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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $760 in Bertioga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,130 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,210 in Bertioga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,999 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,659 in Bertioga.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 66% more expensive than Bertioga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Bertioga 43% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Bertioga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.67 MX$203
$7.09 R$35.17
64.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.88 MX$728
$31.84 R$158
31.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.40 MX$181
$6.94 R$34.42
49.86%
Cappuccino
$3.61 MX$62.9
$1.74 R$8.65
107.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MX$25.54
$1.23 R$6.10
19.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 MX$15.86
$0.76 R$3.77
19.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$52.8
$1.75 R$8.69
73.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 MX$77.7
$2.81 R$13.92
59.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Bertioga
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.91
$0.78 R$3.88
76.92%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 MX$32.04
$1.24 R$6.14
48.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.91
$1.13 R$5.59
42.48%
Eggs
$2.57 MX$44.67
$1.18 R$5.85
117.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.49 MX$148
$8.83 R$43.78
-3.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.49 MX$148
$3.27 R$16.23
159.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.99 MX$191
$7.25 R$35.95
51.59%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 MX$47.42
$2.16 R$10.69
26.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$26.01
$0.83 R$4.11
80.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 MX$34.05
$0.93 R$4.63
110.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$36.83
$0.94 R$4.66
125.53%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$32.41
$0.92 R$4.54
102.17%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.80
$0.69 R$3.41
214.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.65
$0.56 R$2.76
91.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05 MX$18.24
$0.55 R$2.73
90.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MX$72.9
$1.83 R$9.06
128.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.28 MX$179
$5.07 R$25.15
102.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 MX$28.97
$1.30 R$6.45
28.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 MX$43.27
$2.01 R$9.98
23.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Bertioga
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.41
$0.86 R$4.25
-37.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.27 MX$457
$38.40 R$190
-31.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.10 MX$54.0
$1.11 R$5.50
179.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.46 MX$42.81
$0.61 R$3.04
303.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$56.3
$7.85 R$38.94
-58.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 MX$21.91
$1.08 R$5.35
16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K MX$524.6K
$22.9K R$113.6K
31.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$407.7K
$28.9K R$143.3K
-18.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Bertioga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.0 MX$1,461
$50.9 R$252
65.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21 MX$386
$8.83 R$43.82
151.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65 MX$516
$15.97 R$79.2
85.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Bertioga
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.6 MX$915
$22.93 R$114
129.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.34 MX$319
$21.25 R$105
-13.69%
Cinema Ticket
$4.95 MX$86.0
$7.35 R$36.47
-32.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Bertioga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 MX$3,449
$72.3 R$359
174.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,322 MX$92.5K
$8,876 R$44.0K
-40.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Bertioga
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.95 MX$625
$53.0 R$263
-32.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06 MX$697
$44.68 R$222
-10.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.8 MX$1,370
$54.9 R$272
43.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5 MX$1,504
$76.4 R$379
13.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Bertioga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$977 MX$17.0K
$309 R$1,534
215.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$471 MX$8,186
$214 R$1,062
119.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,595 MX$27.7K
$593 R$2,939
169.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,215 MX$21.1K
$437 R$2,169
177.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,032 MX$70.1K
$1,447 R$7,176
178.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,579 MX$114.4K
$1,265 R$6,275
419.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Bertioga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$714 MX$12.4K
-
-
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: April 19, 2026

Last update for Bertioga: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $977 in Playa del Carmen and $309 in Bertioga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $42 in Playa del Carmen vs $32 in Bertioga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $152 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 66% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,891 in Playa del Carmen and $1,141 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: $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $309 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 66% 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 $32.00 versus $42.00 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 $760 in Bertioga versus $1,261 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 66% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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