Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Cabimas

For one person, living is cheaper in Cabimas: $118 a month against $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $13,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Cabimas, Venezuela
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Cabimas
🇻🇪 Venezuela
$118
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $1,204 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $118 in Cabimas, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Cabimas $118

A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $195 in Cabimas, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Cabimas $195

A family of three spends $2,959 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $272 in Cabimas, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,959
  • Cabimas $272

Playa del Carmen costs about 917% more than Cabimas, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Playa del Carmen and Cabimas are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 12% lower, Cabimas 91% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Cabimas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.92 MX$205
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.37 MX$813
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 MX$221
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.81 MX$71.4
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$24.03
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 MX$14.67
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.17 MX$59.3
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$92.5
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Cabimas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.35
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$41.54
$1.08 VES 963
105.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 MX$26.56
$2.23 VES 1,976
-36.32%
Eggs
$2.52 MX$47.27
$1.17 VES 1,038
115.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.26 MX$136
$2.19 VES 1,942
231.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 MX$144
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 MX$238
$2.14 VES 1,899
492.99%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$52.2
$2.17 VES 1,928
28.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MX$25.64
$2.24 VES 1,991
-38.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 MX$47.80
$2.22 VES 1,968
14.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$39.78
$2.25 VES 2,000
-5.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.32
$2.23 VES 1,981
-13.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.34
$2.19 VES 1,943
-13.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$21.49
$1.01 VES 899
13.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 MX$22.09
$1.01 VES 899
16.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 MX$80.5
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$9.95 MX$186
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$29.67
$1.44 VES 1,279
9.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 MX$50.1
$1.03 VES 913
159.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Cabimas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$10.37
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.62 MX$499
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 MX$93.1
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.33 MX$62.4
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 MX$100
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$27.06
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K MX$387.3K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$439.7K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Cabimas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.8 MX$1,589
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41 MX$439
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.66 MX$537
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Cabimas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,069
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.91 MX$542
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.14 MX$96.3
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Cabimas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,871
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,927 MX$73.6K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Cabimas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.35 MX$812
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.44 MX$777
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 MX$1,390
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 MX$1,672
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Cabimas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 MX$18.4K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$381 MX$7,136
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 MX$32.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 MX$20.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,943 MX$73.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,158 MX$115.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Cabimas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$735 MX$13.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
0
-

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Last update for Cabimas: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$381
Cabimas
–
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$255
Cabimas
–
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$202
Cabimas
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Cabimas
–
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Cabimas
–
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$67
Cabimas
–
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Cabimas
–
Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇻🇪 Cabimas
🕒 Local time
00:47 12:47 AM
01:47 1:47 AM
1 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
299,108
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

VES, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 18.74 MXN (100 MXN = 5.34 USD). 1 EUR = 21 MXN (100 MXN = 4.76 EUR).

Venezuelan Bolívar exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 887 VES (1,000 VES = 1.13 USD). 1 EUR = 995 VES (1,000 VES = 1.01 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Cabimas 2,020 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Cabimas

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 Cabimas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Cabimas?
Playa del Carmen costs about 917% more than Cabimas, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen and in Cabimas?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,806 per month in Playa del Carmen and $178 in Cabimas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Cabimas?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,204 in Playa del Carmen and $118 in Cabimas. That makes Cabimas about 90% cheaper.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or in Cabimas?
Groceries cost about 115% more in Playa del Carmen, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Playa del Carmen or in Cabimas?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Cabimas, where all-in costs run around $118, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,204. In Cabimas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Playa del Carmen or Cabimas?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $118 in Cabimas to $1,204 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

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