Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Bocas del Toro Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Bocas del Toro

😐 Solo nomad: Playa del Carmen is 39.9% more expensive than Bocas del Toro without rent, and 10% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Playa del Carmen is 15.6% more expensive than Bocas del Toro without rent, and 18.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Bocas del Toro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.61 MX$200
$9.40 PAB 9.40
23.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$738
$50.6 PAB 50.6
-15.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.60 MX$183
$10.09 PAB 10.09
5.05%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.0
$4.05 PAB 4.05
-11.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$25.08
$1.80 PAB 1.80
-19.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 MX$15.50
$1.66 PAB 1.66
-45.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$52.4
$1.96 PAB 1.96
54.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56 MX$78.8
$3.88 PAB 3.88
17.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Bocas del Toro
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 MX$25.07
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 MX$31.55
$3.97 PAB 3.97
-53.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.77
-
-
Eggs
$2.54 MX$43.82
$2.59 PAB 2.59
-1.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.54 MX$148
$17.20 PAB 17.20
-50.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.47 MX$146
$8.71 PAB 8.71
-2.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 MX$188
$8.10 PAB 8.10
34.07%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 MX$47.13
$4.55 PAB 4.55
-40.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 MX$25.77
$1.47 PAB 1.47
1.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 MX$33.55
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.38
$5.03 PAB 5.03
-57.06%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 MX$31.88
$3.34 PAB 3.34
-44.61%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.80
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.52
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.71
$1.58 PAB 1.58
-31.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06 MX$70.1
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$10.46 MX$181
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 MX$28.56
$2.90 PAB 2.90
-43.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 MX$44.01
$2.56 PAB 2.56
-0.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Bocas del Toro
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.56 MX$9.60
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.20 MX$453
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$54.2
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.37 MX$40.96
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$56.0
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.70
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K MX$527.4K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K MX$411.4K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Bocas del Toro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.1 MX$1,436
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.15 MX$383
$30.17 PAB 30.17
-26.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.37 MX$507
$35.64 PAB 35.64
-17.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Bocas del Toro
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.2 MX$884
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69 MX$323
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.89 MX$84.4
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Bocas del Toro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$199 MX$3,431
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,207 MX$89.9K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Bocas del Toro
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93 MX$621
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.39 MX$680
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.3 MX$1,387
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6 MX$1,512
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Bocas del Toro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.6K
$744 PAB 744
29.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 MX$8,326
$896 PAB 896
-46.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,645 MX$28.4K
$1,188 PAB 1,188
38.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,192 MX$20.6K
$1,209 PAB 1,209
-1.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,957 MX$68.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,513 MX$112.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Bocas del Toro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$726 MX$12.5K
$712 PAB 712
2.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
0
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CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026

Last update for Bocas del Toro: April 12, 2026

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 other spots: cost of living compared

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