😐A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $401 in Birtamod, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $680 in Birtamod, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $958 in Birtamod, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 221% more than Birtamod, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Birtamod are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen4% lower, Birtamod70% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Birtamod
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$1.86NPR 283
541.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$24.13NPR 3,666
77.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$7.61NPR 1,155
39.16%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$1.29NPR 196
180.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$0.45NPR 68.6
226.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$0.17NPR 25.25
452.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$2.00NPR 305
54.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$3.55NPR 540
25.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Birtamod
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$0.66NPR 100.0
116.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$0.43NPR 66.1
337.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$1.64NPR 250
-0.61%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$1.56NPR 236
69.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$7.26NPR 1,103
13.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$3.15NPR 479
163.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$6.28NPR 954
76.75%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$2.24NPR 341
18.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$1.04NPR 158
44.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$1.25NPR 190
59.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$0.69NPR 105
201.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$0.49NPR 74.7
265.31%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$0.69NPR 105
215.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$0.49NPR 74.3
120.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.27NPR 41.33
285.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$2.84NPR 431
39.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$2.34NPR 356
-26.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$3.27NPR 496
-23.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Birtamod
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$0.17NPR 26.39
205.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$2.17NPR 329
44.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$0.77NPR 116
211.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$3.69NPR 560
-16.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$1.27NPR 193
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$31.9KNPR 4.9M
-3.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$40.8KNPR 6.2M
-42.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Birtamod
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$26.56NPR 4,035
208.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$4.25NPR 646
428.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$9.78NPR 1,486
203.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Birtamod
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$17.86NPR 2,714
190.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
$7.49NPR 1,138
149.27%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$2.77NPR 421
79.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Birtamod
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$71.2NPR 10.8K
177.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$2,771NPR 421.0K
90.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Birtamod
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$25.03NPR 3,802
45.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$27.29NPR 4,145
46.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$46.22NPR 7,022
72.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$29.07NPR 4,416
205.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Birtamod
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$104NPR 15.8K
826.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$63.5NPR 9,649
631.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$208NPR 31.5K
668.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$145NPR 22.1K
731.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Birtamod
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$125NPR 19.0K
476.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
12.08
-5.46%
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 Birtamod: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $104 in Birtamod. 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 476% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $24.00 in Birtamod. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $132 – making Birtamod 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 Birtamod: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and Birtamod compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, $401 in Birtamod – roughly 221% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Birtamod?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $602 in Birtamod. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Playa del Carmen and Birtamod?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Birtamod, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen and $24.00 in Birtamod. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 89% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Birtamod, where all-in costs run around $401, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Birtamod it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Birtamod?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $401 in Birtamod to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Playa del Carmen or Birtamod safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Birtamod?
If budget matters most, go with Birtamod. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared