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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,330 in Playa del Carmen versus $197 in Brikama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,336 in Playa del Carmen versus $174 in Brikama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,341 in Playa del Carmen versus $150 in Brikama.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 575% more expensive than in Brikama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Brikama 86% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.02 MX$221

$6.21 GMD 463

109.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.25 MX$784

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.59 MX$213

Cappuccino

$4.00 MX$67.9

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

$1.42 MX$24.08

$0.71 GMD 52.9

100.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 MX$13.73

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.05 MX$51.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.82 MX$116

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 MX$29.04

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 MX$37.62

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 MX$29.13

Eggs

$2.71 MX$45.99

$2.48 GMD 185

9.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.37 MX$159

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.86 MX$150

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.78 MX$217

Apples (1kg)

$3.13 MX$53.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 MX$26.24

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 MX$36.51

Tomato (1kg)

$2.35 MX$39.89

Potato (1kg)

$2.02 MX$34.23

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MX$33.67

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 MX$21.09

$0.33 GMD 24.49

275.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 MX$20.21

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 MX$78.8

Wine (Bottle)

$10.47 MX$177

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 MX$26.82

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 MX$49.48

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 MX$9.53

$0.32 GMD 24.11

75.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.76 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.32 MX$90.2

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.72 MX$63.0

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 MX$97.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 MX$26.27

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

$22.4K MX$379.1K

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

$25.6K MX$433.3K

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

$89.3 MX$1,513

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

$23.30 MX$395

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.72 MX$538

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 MX$1,165

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.40 MX$498

Cinema Ticket

$5.06 MX$85.7

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

$222 MX$3,765

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,293 MX$72.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.21 MX$783

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.43 MX$753

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.5 MX$1,618

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.5 MX$1,568

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,069 MX$18.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 MX$6,663

$135 GMD 10.1K

191.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,988 MX$33.7K

$274 GMD 20.5K

625.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,304 MX$22.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,037 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,627 MX$112.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$747 MX$12.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.6

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 18, 2026

Last update for Brikama: August 17, 2026

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 Brikama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brikama is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 575% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,995 in Playa del Carmen and $296 in Brikama 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2368% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,330 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $197 in Brikama – a 575% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $197 in Brikama versus $1,330 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Brikama but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Brikama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Brikama 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.

Expats usually find Brikama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 575% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.