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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $291 in Cabimas, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $537 in Cabimas, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $783 in Cabimas, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 346% more than Cabimas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Cabimas are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Cabimas 78% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Cabimas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$20.61 VES 11.5K
-43.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$720
$24.54 VES 13.7K
69.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$60.9
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.12
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.84
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.0
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.0
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Cabimas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.93
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.72
$1.12 VES 624
68.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.32
$2.23 VES 1,241
-26.46%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.34
$1.18 VES 657
112.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$2.25 VES 1,251
270.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$186
$2.22 VES 1,239
383.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.04
$2.14 VES 1,191
21.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.20
$2.15 VES 1,196
-32.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.87
$2.17 VES 1,207
-12.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.91
$2.15 VES 1,196
-3.26%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.71
$2.14 VES 1,194
-16.82%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.80
$2.24 VES 1,246
-2.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$17.99
$1.03 VES 574
0.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.62
$1.01 VES 565
6.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.6
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$178
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.61
$1.47 VES 819
16.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.54
$0.98 VES 545
163.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Cabimas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.81
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$458
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.4
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.09
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.2
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.61
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$523.7K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$405.3K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Cabimas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,433
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$384
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$507
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Cabimas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$893
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.6
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Cabimas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,473
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.1K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Cabimas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$639
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$688
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,357
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,506
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Cabimas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.8K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,090
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Cabimas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
0
-

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Cabimas: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $25.00 in Cabimas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $118 – making Cabimas 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 Cabimas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Cabimas?
Playa del Carmen costs about 346% more than Cabimas, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 vs Cabimas?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $437 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 $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $291 in Cabimas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or Cabimas?
Groceries cost about 112% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or Cabimas?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Cabimas, where all-in costs run around $291, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Cabimas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Cabimas?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Cabimas costs $291 versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or Cabimas?
If budget matters most, go with Cabimas. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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