Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Boquete Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Boquete

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,475 in Boquete.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,279 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,231 in Boquete.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,292 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,987 in Boquete.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 14% less than in Boquete, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 7% below, Boquete is 8% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.60 MX$200

$6.54 PAB 6.54

77.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.11 MX$812

$39.94 PAB 39.94

17.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.88 MX$205

$7.49 PAB 7.49

58.61%

Cappuccino

$3.98 MX$68.6

$3.86 PAB 3.86

3.11%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 MX$24.60

$1.42 PAB 1.42

0.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 MX$14.22

$1.21 PAB 1.21

-32.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$55.0

$2.19 PAB 2.19

45.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 MX$117

$5.08 PAB 5.08

33.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.89

$1.85 PAB 1.85

-9.19%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 MX$37.88

$2.05 PAB 2.05

7.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.45

$2.17 PAB 2.17

-21.20%

Eggs

$2.74 MX$47.26

$2.51 PAB 2.51

9.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 MX$165

$9.52 PAB 9.52

0.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.01 MX$155

$7.48 PAB 7.48

20.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.81 MX$221

$15.49 PAB 15.49

-17.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.89 MX$49.81

$4.47 PAB 4.47

-35.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.81

$1.01 PAB 1.01

48.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 MX$37.03

$4.52 PAB 4.52

-52.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.96

$2.21 PAB 2.21

2.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 MX$34.15

$2.24 PAB 2.24

-11.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.30

$2.18 PAB 2.18

-8.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 MX$21.28

$2.32 PAB 2.32

-46.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.63

$1.71 PAB 1.71

-29.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 MX$78.5

$5.14 PAB 5.14

-11.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.37 MX$179

$7.92 PAB 7.92

30.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.91

$1.21 PAB 1.21

33.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$49.67

$2.71 PAB 2.71

6.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.35

$1.41 PAB 1.41

-57.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$497

$25.18 PAB 25.18

14.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.39 MX$92.9

$0.98 PAB 0.98

450.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.73 MX$64.3

$2.01 PAB 2.01

85.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.5

$30.56 PAB 30.56

-81.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.48

$1.07 PAB 1.07

43.93%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.5K MX$388.8K

$25.2K PAB 25.2K

-10.63%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.1K MX$449.3K

$22.2K PAB 22.2K

17.62%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$91.4 MX$1,576

$57.4 PAB 57.4

59.28%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.20 MX$435

$26.40 PAB 26.40

-4.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.24 MX$539

$42.51 PAB 42.51

-26.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 MX$1,159

$80.7 PAB 80.7

-16.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$502

$17.24 PAB 17.24

68.85%

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$83.8

$6.33 PAB 6.33

-23.22%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$224 MX$3,856

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,229 MX$72.9K

$6,020 PAB 6,020

-29.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 MX$812

$25.41 PAB 25.41

85.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.29 MX$764

$25.16 PAB 25.16

76.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 MX$1,381

$45.09 PAB 45.09

77.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 MX$1,598

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,063 MX$18.3K

$810 PAB 810

31.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MX$6,728

$695 PAB 695

-43.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 MX$37.1K

$1,552 PAB 1,552

38.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 MX$21.9K

$1,315 PAB 1,315

-3.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$69.0K

$1,167 PAB 1,167

242.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$112.1K

$1,142 PAB 1,142

469.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$758 MX$13.1K

$809 PAB 809

-6.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

6.5

76.15%

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 Boquete: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen and $810 in Boquete. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Boquete pays 7% 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: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $40.00 in Boquete. Groceries flip the comparison at $276 vs $296, with Playa del Carmen cheaper for home cooking.

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 Boquete: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 7% lower in Boquete. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $810 in Boquete. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Boquete. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,475 in Boquete – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,475 in Boquete, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Boquete. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Boquete, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Boquete are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Boquete. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.