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 $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $119 in Cabimas, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $197 in Cabimas, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $275 in Cabimas, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 961% more than Cabimas, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Cabimas are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 7% lower, Cabimas 91% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Cabimas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60 MX$199
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11 MX$808
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.88 MX$204
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.98 MX$68.2
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 MX$24.46
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MX$14.14
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 MX$54.7
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79 MX$116
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Cabimas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 MX$28.72
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$37.67
$1.08 VES 908
103.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 MX$29.29
$2.24 VES 1,882
-23.66%
Eggs
$2.74 MX$46.99
$1.16 VES 978
136.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.58 MX$164
$2.23 VES 1,872
329.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.01 MX$154
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.81 MX$220
$2.24 VES 1,885
471.88%
Apples (1kg)
$2.89 MX$49.52
$2.14 VES 1,795
35.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$25.67
$2.23 VES 1,872
-32.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 MX$36.83
$2.23 VES 1,869
-3.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.74
$2.14 VES 1,795
5.61%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 MX$33.96
$2.13 VES 1,793
-7.04%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.11
$2.24 VES 1,878
-11.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.23 MX$21.16
$1.02 VES 860
20.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$20.52
$1.02 VES 853
17.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55 MX$78.0
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$10.37 MX$178
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.76
$1.39 VES 1,169
16.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$49.39
$0.98 VES 826
193.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Cabimas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MX$10.29
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.80 MX$494
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$92.4
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.73 MX$63.9
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.77 MX$98.9
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$26.34
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K MX$386.6K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K MX$446.7K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Cabimas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.4 MX$1,567
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20 MX$432
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24 MX$536
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Cabimas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 MX$1,152
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11 MX$499
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 MX$83.4
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Cabimas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$224 MX$3,834
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,229 MX$72.5K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Cabimas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10 MX$808
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29 MX$759
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.1 MX$1,373
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7 MX$1,589
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Cabimas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,063 MX$18.2K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$390 MX$6,690
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,149 MX$36.8K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,272 MX$21.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,001 MX$68.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,502 MX$111.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Cabimas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$758 MX$13.0K
-
-
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: September 12, 2026

Last update for Cabimas: September 13, 2026

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 961% more than Cabimas, with the gap driven mainly by 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 $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $179 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 $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $119 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 in Cabimas?
Groceries cost about 135% 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 in Cabimas?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Cabimas, where all-in costs run around $119, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. 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 $119 versus $1,266 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 to 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.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities