Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Broome, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,202 a month against $2,674 in Broome, WA, rent and utilities included – about $17,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Broome, WA, Australia
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,202
/mo nomad
Broome, WA
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,674
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Broome, WA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Broome, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,202 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,674 in Broome, WA.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,202
  • Broome, WA $2,674

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,424 in Broome, WA.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Broome, WA $4,424

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,962 in Playa del Carmen versus $6,173 in Broome, WA.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,962
  • Broome, WA $6,173

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 55% less than in Broome, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 11% below, Broome, WA is 98% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Broome, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.67 MX$201
$21.42 A$30.72
-50.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.80 MX$824
$83.8 A$120
-47.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.79 MX$222
$21.41 A$30.72
-44.93%
Cappuccino
$3.79 MX$71.2
$5.34 A$7.67
-29.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 MX$24.41
$3.91 A$5.60
-66.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 MX$15.69
$2.18 A$3.13
-61.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 MX$59.2
$8.34 A$11.97
-62.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$92.9
$7.21 A$10.35
-31.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Broome, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.51
$2.82 A$4.05
-50.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$41.32
$2.68 A$3.85
-17.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.47 MX$27.71
$2.24 A$3.22
-34.38%
Eggs
$2.50 MX$46.99
$4.84 A$6.94
-48.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.29 MX$137
$9.11 A$13.08
-19.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.95 MX$150
$9.70 A$13.91
-18.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.86 MX$242
$14.95 A$21.45
-13.98%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 MX$54.5
$4.44 A$6.37
-34.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 MX$26.03
$3.27 A$4.69
-57.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.49 MX$46.88
$4.26 A$6.12
-41.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 MX$38.20
$5.56 A$7.97
-63.49%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$38.11
$3.46 A$4.96
-41.62%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 MX$35.82
$3.22 A$4.62
-40.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 MX$21.54
$3.62 A$5.19
-68.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 MX$23.32
$1.59 A$2.29
-22.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$80.4
$31.77 A$45.58
-86.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.81 MX$185
$17.81 A$25.56
-44.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 MX$29.85
$4.64 A$6.66
-65.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 MX$51.7
$5.16 A$7.41
-46.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Broome, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$9.69
$2.83 A$4.06
-81.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.39 MX$515
$84.6 A$121
-67.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.76 MX$89.6
$3.52 A$5.06
35.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.25 MX$61.1
$1.63 A$2.34
99.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$101
$69.3 A$99.5
-92.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 MX$28.76
$1.66 A$2.38
-7.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$399.2K
$28.5K A$40.9K
-25.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$437.8K
$22.9K A$32.9K
1.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Broome, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.5 MX$1,571
$205 A$294
-59.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.19 MX$436
$27.98 A$40.15
-17.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.61 MX$520
$48.54 A$69.6
-43.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Broome, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.4 MX$1,062
$55.0 A$79.0
2.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.19 MX$531
$16.09 A$23.09
75.20%
Cinema Ticket
$5.00 MX$94.1
$17.24 A$24.74
-71.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Broome, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,897
$1,067 A$1,531
-80.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,231 MX$98.4K
$20.4K A$29.3K
-74.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Broome, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.45 MX$818
$107 A$153
-59.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.54 MX$801
$70.9 A$102
-39.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.8 MX$1,369
$157 A$225
-53.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 MX$1,663
$125 A$179
-29.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Broome, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$995 MX$18.7K
$1,484 A$2,130
-32.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$382 MX$7,197
$1,199 A$1,720
-68.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,674 MX$31.5K
$2,979 A$4,274
-43.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,081 MX$20.3K
$2,885 A$4,139
-62.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,909 MX$73.6K
$5,948 A$8,534
-34.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,138 MX$115.5K
$5,059 A$7,259
21.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Broome, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$832 MX$15.7K
$3,918 A$5,622
-78.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
5.9
94.07%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: November 2, 2026

Last update for Broome, WA: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$382
Broome, WA
$1.2K 214% $816
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$257
Broome, WA
$410 59.4% $153
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$200
Broome, WA
$380 89.8% $180
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$134
Broome, WA
$281 110% $147
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$111
Broome, WA
$207 85.9% $96
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$66
Broome, WA
$90 34.7% $23
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Broome, WA
$108 113% $57

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $995 in Playa del Carmen and $1,484 in Broome, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Broome, WA pays about 4.7 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $44 in Playa del Carmen vs $84 in Broome, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $257 vs $410 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇦🇺 Broome, WA
🕒 Local time
21:48 9:48 PM
10:48 10:48 AM
13 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
14,660
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

AUD, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 18.82 MXN (100 MXN = 5.31 USD). 1 EUR = 21.05 MXN (100 MXN = 4.75 EUR).

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD (1 AUD = 0.697 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 AUD (1 AUD = 0.623 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Broome, WA 16,930 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Broome, WA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Broome, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and in Broome, WA?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,202 in Playa del Carmen and $2,674 in Broome, WA, so Playa del Carmen is about 55% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 79% lower in Playa del Carmen. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Broome, WA?
Rent for a central apartment: $995 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,484 in Broome, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Broome, WA?
All in, you’ll spend $1,202 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,674 in Broome, WA – Playa del Carmen is about 55% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How do commuting costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Broome, WA?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 68% less than in Broome, WA. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,202 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,674 in Broome, WA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Broome, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Broome, WA?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Playa del Carmen or Broome, WA?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% less than in Broome, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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