😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $748 in Bogo City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,279 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,160 in Bogo City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,292 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,573 in Bogo City.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 69% more expensive than in Bogo City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen7% lower, Bogo City45% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Bogo City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$3.10₱195
274.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$811
$22.89₱1,438
105.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$3.85₱242
208.57%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.5
$2.48₱156
60.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.57
$0.60₱37.42
138.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.20
$0.53₱33.21
54.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$54.9
$1.76₱111
81.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$2.27₱143
199.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Bogo City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.85
$1.33₱83.4
26.32%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.83
$1.12₱70.4
96.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.41
$0.92₱58.0
85.87%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.20
$1.94₱122
41.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
$10.03₱630
-4.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$3.16₱198
185.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
$5.27₱331
143.07%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.74
$3.48₱219
-16.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.78
$1.38₱86.8
8.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.98
$2.39₱150
-10.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.91
$1.54₱96.7
46.75%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.10
$2.33₱146
-15.02%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.26
$1.99₱125
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.25
$1.18₱74.2
4.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.60
$0.64₱40.08
87.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.3
$2.87₱180
58.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
$6.31₱396
64.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.88
$1.22₱76.9
32.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.60
$1.71₱107
68.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Bogo City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.34
$0.29₱18.50
106.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$496
$10.94₱687
163.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.8
$0.79₱49.73
582.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.2
$0.20₱12.56
1765.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.3
$1.95₱122
195.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.45
$1.32₱83.2
16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.3K
$21.6K₱1.4M
4.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$448.7K
$18.9K₱1.2M
37.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Bogo City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,573
$118₱7,424
-22.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$434
$14.87₱934
69.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$538
$27.88₱1,752
12.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Bogo City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,157
$36.52₱2,295
84.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$501
$5.05₱317
476.44%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.7
$5.61₱352
-13.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Bogo City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,851
$134₱8,415
66.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.8K
$7,998₱502.5K
-47.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Bogo City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$811
$32.32₱2,031
45.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$763
$19.34₱1,215
129.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,379
$77.8₱4,890
2.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,596
$54.7₱3,438
69.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Bogo City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
$264₱16.6K
302.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,719
$152₱9,534
157.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.0K
$544₱34.2K
294.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
$353₱22.2K
260.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$68.9K
$2,897₱182.0K
38.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$112.0K
$976₱61.3K
565.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Bogo City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
7.2
59.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Last update for Bogo City: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen and $264 in Bogo City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $23.00 in Bogo City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $276 vs $186 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 69% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,899 in Playa del Carmen and $1,122 in Bogo City 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 Bogo City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $264 in Bogo City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Bogo City?
All in, you'll spend $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $748 in Bogo City – a 69% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Bogo City runs roughly 163% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Bogo City?
At $748 in Bogo City versus $1,266 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 69% 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