😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $747 in Bogo City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,126 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,168 in Bogo City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,980 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,589 in Bogo City.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 70% more expensive than Bogo City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen5% lower, Bogo City44% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Bogo City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87MX$204
$4.44₱270
167.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$736
$14.89₱904
188.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$183
$2.64₱160
303.41%
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$59.2
$1.74₱106
98.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$25.81
$0.42₱25.44
257.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.28
$0.36₱22.13
163.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$51.9
$1.51₱91.4
100.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$79.1
$1.40₱85.1
229.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Bogo City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.61
$1.68₱102
-17.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$31.70
$1.23₱74.8
50.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.65
$0.97₱58.7
65.98%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.51
$2.36₱143
9.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$142
$10.76₱653
-23.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$144
$3.46₱210
141.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$183
$4.80₱291
122.08%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.12
$2.58₱157
1.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.53
$1.45₱87.8
2.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$32.94
$3.42₱208
-43.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.81
$2.18₱133
-4.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$31.88
$1.58₱96.1
17.72%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.81
$1.72₱104
31.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.23
$0.92₱55.9
15.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.67
$0.52₱31.34
109.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$71.2
$3.16₱192
31.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$178
$6.42₱390
61.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.59
$1.17₱71.0
47.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$44.85
$1.79₱109
45.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Bogo City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.30
$0.26₱15.58
107.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$462
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$53.7
$0.84₱51.0
272.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.09
$0.23₱13.90
991.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$54.1
$2.64₱160
19.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$21.88
$1.14₱68.9
11.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KMX$521.3K
$30.5K₱1.9M
-0.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$404.5K
$27.7K₱1.7M
-15.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Bogo City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0MX$1,425
$96.1₱5,835
-13.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$390
$34.10₱2,070
-33.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$506
$30.36₱1,844
-2.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Bogo City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$875
$33.94₱2,061
50.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$315
$4.38₱266
318.49%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$84.5
$5.46₱332
-9.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Bogo City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,386
$228₱13.9K
-13.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$90.6K
$3,853₱233.9K
37.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Bogo City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$633
$46.27₱2,809
-20.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$685
$22.84₱1,387
74.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,373
$76.2₱4,627
4.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,536
$56.0₱3,401
59.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Bogo City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.4K
$267₱16.2K
257.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,189
$174₱10.6K
174.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.3K
$593₱36.0K
177.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.0K
$391₱23.8K
212.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$67.2K
$2,178₱132.2K
79.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$110.9K
$1,088₱66.1K
493.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Bogo City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$11.4K
$161₱9,780
314.13%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Bogo City: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $956 in Playa del Carmen and $267 in Bogo City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 314% 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 $15.00 in Bogo City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $193 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?
Playa del Carmen pays 314% 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 Bogo City?
Rent for a central apartment: $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $267 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 Bogo City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 30% 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 vs Bogo City?
All in, you'll spend $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $747 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 Playa del Carmen or Bogo City?
At $747 in Bogo City versus $1,271 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared