Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Bogo City Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Bogo City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $743 in Bogo City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,125 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,145 in Bogo City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,990 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,548 in Bogo City.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 70% more expensive than in Bogo City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Bogo City 44% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Bogo City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72 MX$203
$4.52 ₱276
159.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89 MX$725
$15.24 ₱933
174.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 MX$182
$2.60 ₱159
304.23%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.0
$1.81 ₱111
98.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.10
$0.46 ₱28.22
228.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 MX$15.83
$0.34 ₱20.58
170.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.96 MX$51.2
$1.56 ₱95.6
89.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41 MX$76.3
$1.41 ₱86.2
212.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Bogo City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 MX$24.16
$1.78 ₱109
-21.35%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.60
$1.17 ₱71.5
60.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 MX$26.97
$0.91 ₱55.9
71.43%
Eggs
$2.61 MX$45.14
$2.37 ₱145
10.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.32 MX$144
$10.50 ₱643
-20.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.35 MX$145
$3.46 ₱212
141.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 MX$188
$4.64 ₱284
134.05%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 MX$46.93
$2.69 ₱165
0.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$26.04
$1.48 ₱90.5
2.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.41
$3.25 ₱199
-42.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.89
$2.18 ₱134
0.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$32.14
$1.62 ₱99.4
14.81%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 MX$38.59
$1.78 ₱109
25.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.48
$0.93 ₱57.1
15.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.79
$0.52 ₱31.54
109.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MX$72.4
$3.26 ₱200
28.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.43 MX$180
$6.37 ₱390
63.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 MX$28.68
$1.19 ₱72.9
39.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$45.19
$1.72 ₱105
51.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Bogo City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.37
$0.28 ₱17.24
92.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.16 MX$453
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 MX$53.3
$0.82 ₱49.97
275.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$41.61
$0.23 ₱14.05
943.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$54.1
$2.63 ₱161
19.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.69
$1.15 ₱70.4
13.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K MX$515.7K
$30.1K ₱1.8M
-0.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$403.5K
$26.8K ₱1.6M
-13.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Bogo City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 MX$1,406
$96.8 ₱5,923
-16.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56 MX$390
$34.81 ₱2,131
-35.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05 MX$520
$29.54 ₱1,808
1.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Bogo City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.9 MX$915
$34.53 ₱2,113
53.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 MX$318
$4.45 ₱272
313.26%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92 MX$85.1
$5.42 ₱332
-9.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Bogo City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,474
$233 ₱14.3K
-13.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,175 MX$89.5K
$3,969 ₱243.0K
30.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Bogo City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92 MX$622
$45.96 ₱2,813
-21.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13 MX$694
$23.40 ₱1,432
71.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.7 MX$1,379
$75.5 ₱4,624
5.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5 MX$1,496
$56.3 ₱3,447
53.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Bogo City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$978 MX$16.9K
$262 ₱16.0K
273.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 MX$8,140
$176 ₱10.7K
167.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,651 MX$28.6K
$590 ₱36.1K
179.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,203 MX$20.8K
$398 ₱24.4K
202.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,953 MX$68.4K
$2,421 ₱148.2K
63.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,607 MX$114.3K
$1,084 ₱66.4K
509.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Bogo City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$677 MX$11.7K
$160 ₱9,821
321.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
8
42.75%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Last update for Bogo City: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $978 in Playa del Carmen and $262 in Bogo City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 322% 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: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $15.00 in Bogo City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $192 per month, with Bogo City 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 Bogo City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bogo City cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Bogo City is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 70% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Bogo City?
Average pay runs 322% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 Bogo City?
Rent for a central apartment: $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $262 in Bogo City. 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 in Bogo City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Bogo City?
All in, you'll spend $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $743 in Bogo City – a 70% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Bogo City?
At $743 in Bogo City versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bogo City but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Bogo City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Bogo City more family-friendly?
For families, Bogo City 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 Bogo City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 70% 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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