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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,294 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,576 in Buzet, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,189 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,440 in Buzet, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,084 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,303 in Buzet, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 18% cheaper than Buzet, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Playa del Carmen sits 3% below the global median, while Buzet is 18% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Buzet
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$204
$15.91 €13.88
-26.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78 MX$725
$82.3 €71.8
-49.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.41 MX$181
$8.07 €7.05
29.00%
Cappuccino
$3.61 MX$62.6
$3.42 €2.99
5.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 MX$25.28
$3.57 €3.12
-59.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.84
$2.61 €2.28
-62.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 MX$50.8
$4.75 €4.14
-38.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62 MX$80.2
$3.81 €3.32
21.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Buzet
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.80
$1.15 €1.00
24.35%
White Bread (500g)
$1.90 MX$32.98
$1.41 €1.23
34.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$27.18
$3.02 €2.64
-48.01%
Eggs
$2.64 MX$45.73
$4.99 €4.35
-47.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.44 MX$146
$17.62 €15.37
-52.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.58 MX$149
$11.61 €10.13
-26.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.00 MX$191
$11.40 €9.94
-3.51%
Apples (1kg)
$2.70 MX$46.91
$1.65 €1.44
63.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$26.15
$1.55 €1.35
-2.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.91 MX$33.22
$2.17 €1.89
-11.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.69
$2.56 €2.23
-15.23%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.53
$1.47 €1.28
27.21%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 MX$38.76
$1.49 €1.30
49.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MX$18.76
$0.94 €0.82
14.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$18.63
$1.18 €1.03
-9.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16 MX$72.2
$5.11 €4.46
-18.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.29 MX$179
$7.74 €6.76
32.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$29.20
$1.38 €1.20
21.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 MX$43.96
$1.36 €1.19
86.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Buzet
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$9.61
$1.70 €1.48
-67.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.29 MX$456
$42.04 €36.68
-37.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.20 MX$55.5
$3.05 €2.66
4.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.46 MX$42.73
$1.02 €0.89
141.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.20 MX$55.5
$9.04 €7.89
-64.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 MX$22.91
$1.70 €1.48
-22.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K MX$523.3K
$38.5K €33.6K
-21.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$406.0K
$26.5K €23.1K
-11.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Buzet
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.4 MX$1,412
$184 €161
-55.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.41 MX$389
$23.21 €20.25
-3.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.97 MX$520
$30.04 €26.21
-0.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Buzet
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$895
$51.4 €44.87
0.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 MX$319
$14.59 €12.73
26.05%
Cinema Ticket
$5.16 MX$89.6
$8.38 €7.31
-38.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Buzet
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$202 MX$3,501
$244 €213
-17.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,311 MX$92.2K
$1,389 €1,212
282.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Buzet
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.61 MX$618
$106 €92.7
-66.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.37 MX$701
$45.78 €39.94
-11.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.6 MX$1,365
$136 €119
-42.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.9 MX$1,507
$107 €93.3
-18.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Buzet
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$950 MX$16.5K
$674 €588
40.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$478 MX$8,298
$461 €402
3.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 MX$28.1K
$1,033 €902
56.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,223 MX$21.2K
$778 €679
57.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,009 MX$69.6K
$4,276 €3,731
-6.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,473 MX$112.3K
$3,268 €2,851
98.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Buzet
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$673 MX$11.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
4.7
142.98%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026

Last update for Buzet: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $950 in Playa del Carmen versus $674 in Buzet. 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $82.0 in Buzet. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $254 vs $292 – 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 Buzet: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and in Buzet compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,294 in Playa del Carmen, $1,576 in Buzet – roughly 22% apart. Buzet costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Buzet?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,941 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,364 in Buzet. 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 Buzet?
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.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Playa del Carmen and Buzet?
Kindergarten costs $202 per month in Playa del Carmen and $244 in Buzet. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 15% more in Buzet, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
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 $1,294, than in Buzet at $1,576. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Buzet it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Buzet?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,294 in Playa del Carmen to $1,576 in Buzet. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Playa del Carmen or Buzet safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Buzet?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Buzet makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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