Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Brossard

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,537 in Brossard, rent and utilities included – about $16,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Brossard
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,537
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Brossard

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 Brossard actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,204 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,537 in Brossard, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Brossard $2,537

A couple spends around $2,102 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,405 in Brossard, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,102
  • Brossard $3,405

A family of three spends $3,000 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,272 in Brossard, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $3,000
  • Brossard $4,272

Playa del Carmen is about 53% cheaper than Brossard, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Playa del Carmen sits 11% below the global median, while Brossard is 87% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Brossard
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.86 MX$201
$18.98 CA$26.83
-42.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.21 MX$817
$72.2 CA$102
-38.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.76 MX$217
$10.82 CA$15.30
8.69%
Cappuccino
$3.68 MX$68.0
$3.96 CA$5.60
-7.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 MX$24.79
$1.99 CA$2.81
-32.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MX$15.24
$1.55 CA$2.20
-47.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.06 MX$56.6
$5.78 CA$8.17
-47.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.94 MX$91.2
$5.81 CA$8.21
-14.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Brossard
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 MX$27.17
$2.32 CA$3.28
-36.64%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$40.95
$2.89 CA$4.09
-23.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.48 MX$27.32
$3.53 CA$4.99
-58.07%
Eggs
$2.49 MX$45.99
$3.46 CA$4.89
-28.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.52 MX$139
$8.87 CA$12.53
-15.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.96 MX$147
$11.38 CA$16.09
-30.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.57 MX$232
$11.86 CA$16.77
5.99%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$51.3
$3.27 CA$4.63
-14.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 MX$26.37
$1.47 CA$2.07
-2.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.62 MX$48.37
$3.40 CA$4.80
-22.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.14 MX$39.49
$3.04 CA$4.30
-29.61%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$37.38
$1.85 CA$2.62
9.19%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$36.74
$1.77 CA$2.50
12.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 MX$21.01
$2.47 CA$3.50
-53.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$22.18
$1.51 CA$2.13
-20.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 MX$78.7
$14.40 CA$20.36
-70.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.02 MX$185
$10.48 CA$14.82
-4.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 MX$28.41
$2.31 CA$3.26
-33.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 MX$49.17
$2.86 CA$4.05
-6.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Brossard
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.53 MX$9.73
$2.51 CA$3.54
-78.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.51 MX$508
$186 CA$262
-85.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.90 MX$90.6
$2.87 CA$4.05
70.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.43 MX$63.5
$1.43 CA$2.03
139.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.38 MX$99.4
$32.39 CA$45.79
-83.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 MX$26.76
$1.28 CA$1.81
13.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$391.0K
$28.4K CA$40.1K
-25.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0K MX$425.3K
$20.9K CA$29.6K
10.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Brossard
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.4 MX$1,577
$102 CA$144
-16.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.46 MX$434
$34.97 CA$49.44
-32.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.43 MX$525
$45.51 CA$64.3
-37.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Brossard
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.2 MX$1,149
$20.50 CA$28.99
203.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.68 MX$530
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.10 MX$94.3
$11.16 CA$15.77
-54.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Brossard
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,715
$678 CA$959
-70.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,947 MX$72.9K
$9,132 CA$12.9K
-56.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Brossard
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.39 MX$820
$58.4 CA$82.6
-24.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.35 MX$764
$37.78 CA$53.4
9.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.7 MX$1,344
$91.4 CA$129
-20.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.6 MX$1,656
$108 CA$153
-17.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Brossard
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$979 MX$18.1K
$971 CA$1,373
0.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$373 MX$6,887
$1,358 CA$1,920
-72.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,681 MX$31.1K
$1,689 CA$2,388
-0.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,095 MX$20.2K
$1,564 CA$2,210
-29.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,949 MX$73.0K
$2,518 CA$3,559
56.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,137 MX$113.4K
$2,152 CA$3,043
185.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Brossard
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$738 MX$13.6K
$2,648 CA$3,743
-72.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
4.48
155.58%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 17, 2026

Last update for Brossard: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$373
Brossard
$1.4K 264% $985
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$258
Brossard
$328 27.1% $70
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$200
Brossard
$287 43.1% $86
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Brossard
$183 33% $45
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Brossard
$133 19.4% $22
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$72
Brossard
$43 40.9% $30
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$52
Brossard
$206 298% $154

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $979 in Playa del Carmen versus $971 in Brossard. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 259% higher in Brossard, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $72.0 in Brossard. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $258 vs $328 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇨🇦 Brossard
🕒 Local time
23:47 11:47 PM
00:47 12:47 AM
1 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
91,525
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Brossard 3,030 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Brossard

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 Brossard: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and in Brossard compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, $2,537 in Brossard – roughly 111% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Brossard?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,806 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,806 in Brossard. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Playa del Carmen and Brossard?
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.
How do commuting costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Brossard?
Public transport costs about 575% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Playa del Carmen and Brossard?
Kindergarten costs $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $678 in Brossard. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,204, than in Brossard at $2,537. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Brossard it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Brossard?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,204 in Playa del Carmen to $2,537 in Brossard. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Brossard?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Brossard makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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