🙂A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,213 in Brabrand, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,539 in Brabrand, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,866 in Brabrand, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 43% cheaper than Brabrand, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 7% below the global median, while Brabrand is 62% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Brabrand
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$22.45DKK 146
-48.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$812
$117DKK 759
-59.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$14.17DKK 92.4
-16.16%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.6
$7.33DKK 47.80
-45.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.60
$4.45DKK 29.03
-67.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.22
$3.59DKK 23.40
-77.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$55.0
$8.31DKK 54.1
-61.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$7.69DKK 50.2
-11.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Brabrand
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.89
$2.05DKK 13.38
-18.05%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.88
$3.91DKK 25.52
-43.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.45
$2.35DKK 15.32
-27.23%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.26
$5.11DKK 33.31
-46.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
$15.95DKK 104
-39.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$11.80DKK 76.9
-23.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
$19.08DKK 124
-32.86%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.81
$3.35DKK 21.83
-13.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.81
$3.30DKK 21.54
-54.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.03
$3.89DKK 25.37
-44.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.96
$5.43DKK 35.41
-58.38%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.15
$2.28DKK 14.87
-13.16%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.30
$2.17DKK 14.15
-8.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.28
$2.16DKK 14.09
-43.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.63
$1.45DKK 9.42
-17.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.5
$9.46DKK 61.7
-51.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
$10.24DKK 66.8
1.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.91
$1.78DKK 11.57
-8.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.67
$2.43DKK 15.84
18.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Brabrand
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.35
$4.31DKK 28.08
-86.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$497
$104DKK 677
-72.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.9
$6.18DKK 40.29
-12.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.3
$1.73DKK 11.27
115.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.5
$63.8DKK 416
-90.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.48
$2.50DKK 16.32
-38.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.8K
$51.1KDKK 333.4K
-55.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$449.3K
$55.0KDKK 358.7K
-52.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Brabrand
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,576
$193DKK 1,255
-52.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$435
$12.30DKK 80.2
104.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$539
$39.41DKK 257
-20.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Brabrand
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,159
$40.87DKK 266
64.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$502
$29.20DKK 190
-0.31%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.8
$20.64DKK 135
-76.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Brabrand
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,856
$762DKK 4,968
-70.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.9K
$6,182DKK 40.3K
-31.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Brabrand
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$812
$110DKK 720
-57.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$764
$47.77DKK 311
-7.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,381
$132DKK 858
-39.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,598
$200DKK 1,301
-53.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Brabrand
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
$863DKK 5,626
23.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,728
$653DKK 4,253
-40.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.1K
$1,585DKK 10.3K
35.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
$1,327DKK 8,649
-4.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$69.0K
$4,622DKK 30.1K
-13.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$112.1K
$3,619DKK 23.6K
79.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Brabrand
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
3.67
211.99%
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 Brabrand: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $863 in Brabrand. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $117 in Brabrand. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $404 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Brabrand: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brabrand cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Brabrand is pricier by about 75%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,319 in Brabrand. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $224 per month in Playa del Carmen and $762 in Brabrand. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Brabrand?
Groceries cost about 47% more in Brabrand, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Brabrand?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,266, than in Brabrand at $2,213. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Brabrand it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Brabrand more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Brabrand?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Brabrand makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared