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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,250 in Berwick.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,254 in Berwick.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,258 in Berwick.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 42% less than in Berwick, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 3% below, Berwick is 68% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Berwick
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$16.43 A$23.02
-28.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$721
$78.0 A$109
-46.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
$9.99 A$13.99
6.51%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$61.0
$3.41 A$4.77
3.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.17
$2.50 A$3.51
-39.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.87
$2.21 A$3.09
-56.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.1
$6.47 A$9.07
-54.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.2
$6.96 A$9.75
-36.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Berwick
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.97
$1.47 A$2.06
-6.12%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.78
$2.35 A$3.30
-19.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.37
$2.01 A$2.82
-18.41%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.42
$4.36 A$6.11
-42.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$145
$8.48 A$11.88
-1.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$145
$8.63 A$12.10
-3.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$186
$13.92 A$19.50
-22.92%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.12
$3.18 A$4.45
-18.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.25
$2.75 A$3.85
-46.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.94
$2.98 A$4.17
-36.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.98
$4.14 A$5.80
-49.76%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.77
$2.43 A$3.41
-26.75%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.87
$2.09 A$2.93
4.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$18.02
$2.15 A$3.01
-51.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.66
$1.57 A$2.20
-31.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.7
$30.34 A$42.52
-86.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$179
$13.88 A$19.44
-25.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.67
$4.60 A$6.44
-62.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.63
$5.21 A$7.30
-50.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Berwick
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.83
$2.64 A$3.70
-80.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$459
$66.1 A$92.6
-59.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.5
$3.54 A$4.96
-7.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.17
$1.62 A$2.26
53.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.3
$32.97 A$46.20
-90.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.65
$1.18 A$1.65
11.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$524.7K
$29.4K A$41.2K
3.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$406.0K
$22.4K A$31.4K
4.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Berwick
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,436
$180 A$252
-53.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$385
$27.20 A$38.12
-18.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$508
$53.0 A$74.2
-44.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Berwick
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$895
$48.16 A$67.5
7.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
$15.85 A$22.21
15.58%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.8
$13.15 A$18.43
-61.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Berwick
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,480
$1,648 A$2,310
-87.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.3K
$11.9K A$16.7K
-56.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Berwick
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$640
$69.2 A$97.0
-46.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$689
$49.66 A$69.6
-19.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,360
$97.9 A$137
-19.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,509
$106 A$149
-18.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Berwick
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.9K
$1,241 A$1,738
-21.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,105
$1,070 A$1,499
-56.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
$2,044 A$2,863
-19.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.2K
$1,664 A$2,332
-26.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.4K
$5,399 A$7,565
-26.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.6K
$5,343 A$7,487
21.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Berwick
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.34
80.13%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Berwick: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $1,241 in Berwick. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $78.0 in Berwick for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $339 per month, with Playa del Carmen 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 Berwick: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Berwick cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 74% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,945 in Playa del Carmen and $3,375 in Berwick 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 Berwick?
Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,241 in Berwick. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or Berwick?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $78.0 in Berwick. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Berwick?
All in, you'll spend $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,250 in Berwick – a 74% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Berwick?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,250 in Berwick, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Berwick. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Berwick more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Berwick, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Berwick?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Berwick 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 74% less than in Berwick. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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