🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,482 in Brampton.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,515 in Brampton.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,362 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,549 in Brampton.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 47% less than in Brampton, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 5% below, Brampton is 80% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Brampton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96MX$203
$16.40CA$22.75
-27.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.38MX$804
$51.4CA$71.3
-7.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.75MX$199
$10.88CA$15.09
8.00%
Cappuccino
$4.12MX$70.0
$3.43CA$4.76
20.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$23.74
$1.48CA$2.06
-5.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.48
$1.24CA$1.73
-26.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21MX$54.4
$5.03CA$6.97
-36.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07MX$120
$5.62CA$7.79
25.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Brampton
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.44
$3.34CA$4.64
-49.70%
White Bread(500g)
$2.15MX$36.48
$2.15CA$2.98
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$30.10
$2.92CA$4.04
-39.38%
Eggs
$2.82MX$47.76
$3.25CA$4.51
-13.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.20MX$156
$9.73CA$13.49
-5.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.23MX$157
$9.99CA$13.86
-7.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.64MX$214
$13.81CA$19.15
-8.47%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$50.1
$3.50CA$4.86
-15.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58MX$26.79
$1.82CA$2.52
-13.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22MX$37.70
$3.25CA$4.50
-31.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.09
$3.42CA$4.75
-30.99%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99MX$33.81
$2.11CA$2.93
-5.69%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98MX$33.58
$2.21CA$3.07
-10.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24MX$21.04
$2.50CA$3.47
-50.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21MX$20.55
$1.85CA$2.56
-34.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.60MX$78.1
$12.90CA$17.89
-64.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.52MX$178
$12.16CA$16.86
-13.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69MX$28.70
$2.36CA$3.28
-28.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77MX$47.06
$2.39CA$3.32
15.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Brampton
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.22
$3.30CA$4.58
-81.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.70MX$504
$101CA$140
-70.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.24MX$88.8
$3.05CA$4.23
71.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.65MX$61.9
$1.25CA$1.74
192.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78MX$98.1
$21.38CA$29.65
-72.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.09
$1.14CA$1.58
35.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$386.8K
$29.0KCA$40.3K
-21.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KMX$437.9K
$19.9KCA$27.5K
30.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Brampton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$90.7MX$1,538
$181CA$250
-49.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.19MX$427
$31.97CA$44.34
-21.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.75MX$539
$56.5CA$78.4
-43.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Brampton
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8MX$1,167
$27.77CA$38.52
147.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.37MX$498
$30.48CA$42.27
-3.64%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$82.5
$12.92CA$17.91
-62.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Brampton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$226MX$3,828
$952CA$1,321
-76.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,194MX$71.1K
$11.3KCA$15.6K
-62.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Brampton
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.38MX$804
$62.2CA$86.3
-23.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.45MX$737
$42.66CA$59.2
1.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.2MX$1,361
$103CA$142
-21.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4MX$1,550
$114CA$159
-20.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Brampton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,086MX$18.4K
$1,412CA$1,959
-23.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$409MX$6,933
$1,275CA$1,769
-67.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,972MX$33.5K
$2,172CA$3,012
-9.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,281MX$21.7K
$2,006CA$2,782
-36.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,046MX$68.6K
$5,848CA$8,111
-30.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,704MX$113.7K
$5,371CA$7,448
24.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Brampton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$773MX$13.1K
$2,905CA$4,028
-73.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
4.72
142.58%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Last update for Brampton: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,086 in Playa del Carmen and $1,412 in Brampton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Brampton pays 276% 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 $51.0 in Brampton for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $278 vs $343 per month, with Playa del Carmen 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 Brampton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brampton cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 90% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Brampton?
On paper, salaries run 276% lower in Brampton. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Brampton?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,086 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,412 in Brampton. 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 Brampton?
All in, you'll spend $1,305 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,482 in Brampton – a 90% 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 Playa del Carmen runs roughly 239% less than in Brampton. 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 Brampton?
At $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,482 in Brampton, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Brampton. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Brampton more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Brampton, 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 Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 90% less than in Brampton. 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