😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $725 in Binangonan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,213 in Binangonan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,702 in Binangonan.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 78% more expensive than Binangonan, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen4% lower, Binangonan46% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Binangonan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$4.86₱300
145.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$21.29₱1,313
100.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$3.06₱189
246.08%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$2.65₱163
36.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$0.97₱59.9
51.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$0.34₱21.15
176.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$1.40₱86.5
120.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$2.69₱166
65.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Binangonan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.94₱120
-26.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$1.24₱76.7
51.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$1.03₱63.5
58.25%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$2.02₱125
30.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$7.09₱438
15.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$4.26₱263
94.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$8.62₱532
28.77%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$3.52₱217
-24.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$1.58₱97.6
-5.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$2.86₱176
-30.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$1.64₱101
26.83%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$2.80₱173
-36.07%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$3.08₱190
-29.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$1.65₱102
-34.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.68₱42.12
52.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$3.29₱203
20.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$7.33₱452
39.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$1.52₱93.5
13.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$2.01₱124
24.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Binangonan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$0.26₱15.88
100.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
$7.16₱442
276.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$0.87₱53.6
260.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$0.22₱13.53
990.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$2.10₱130
47.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$1.09₱67.3
16.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$25.6K₱1.6M
20.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$20.8K₱1.3M
12.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Binangonan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$137₱8,431
-40.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$22.01₱1,357
2.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$27.71₱1,709
7.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Binangonan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$33.57₱2,070
54.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
$4.34₱268
330.18%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$6.72₱414
-26.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Binangonan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$82.7₱5,100
139.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$2,760₱170.2K
91.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Binangonan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$31.73₱1,957
14.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$29.41₱1,814
36.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$82.0₱5,060
-2.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$46.75₱2,883
90.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Binangonan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$268₱16.6K
258.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$73.9₱4,561
528.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$580₱35.7K
175.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$393₱24.2K
207.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$2,281₱140.7K
72.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Binangonan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$435₱26.8K
65.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
8.13
40.47%
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 Binangonan: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $268 in Binangonan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 66% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $21.00 in Binangonan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $215 per month, with Binangonan 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 Binangonan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Binangonan cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Binangonan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 78% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Binangonan?
Playa del Carmen pays 66% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Binangonan?
Rent for a central apartment: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $268 in Binangonan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $198 in Playa del Carmen versus $82.7 in Binangonan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Binangonan?
Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Binangonan?
At $725 in Binangonan versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Binangonan but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Binangonan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Binangonan more family-friendly?
For families, Binangonan 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 Binangonan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 78% 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