😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,330 in Playa del Carmen versus $508 in Cabudare.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,336 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,057 in Cabudare.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,341 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,606 in Cabudare.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 162% more expensive than in Cabudare, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen3% lower, Cabudare63% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Cabudare
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.02MX$221
$10.08VES 7,820
29.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.25MX$784
$50.2VES 39.0K
-7.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.59MX$213
$10.11VES 7,840
24.53%
Cappuccino
$4.00MX$67.9
$1.61VES 1,249
148.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42MX$24.08
$1.42VES 1,101
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81MX$13.73
$1.08VES 839
-25.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.05MX$51.7
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.82MX$116
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Cabudare
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71MX$29.04
$2.88VES 2,234
-40.63%
White Bread(500g)
$2.22MX$37.62
$2.72VES 2,112
-18.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.72MX$29.13
$2.23VES 1,730
-22.87%
Eggs
$2.71MX$45.99
$3.42VES 2,656
-20.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.37MX$159
$7.14VES 5,538
31.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.86MX$150
$7.94VES 6,155
11.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.78MX$217
$11.18VES 8,669
14.31%
Apples(1kg)
$3.13MX$53.0
$4.54VES 3,518
-31.06%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55MX$26.24
$1.76VES 1,366
-11.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.51
$0.72VES 558
198.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.35MX$39.89
$1.02VES 787
130.39%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02MX$34.23
$1.03VES 796
96.12%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$33.67
$1.47VES 1,137
35.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24MX$21.09
$0.65VES 503
90.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19MX$20.21
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.65MX$78.8
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$10.47MX$177
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58MX$26.82
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92MX$49.48
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Cabudare
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56MX$9.53
$0.44VES 339
27.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.76MX$504
$40.76VES 31.6K
-26.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.32MX$90.2
$5.11VES 3,965
4.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.72MX$63.0
$2.53VES 1,962
47.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78MX$97.9
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.27
$0.65VES 502
138.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4KMX$379.1K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6KMX$433.3K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Cabudare
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.3MX$1,513
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.30MX$395
$9.97VES 7,734
133.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.72MX$538
$40.05VES 31.1K
-20.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Cabudare
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8MX$1,165
$34.32VES 26.6K
100.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.40MX$498
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.06MX$85.7
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Cabudare
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$222MX$3,765
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,293MX$72.7K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Cabudare
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.21MX$783
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.43MX$753
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.5MX$1,618
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.5MX$1,568
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Cabudare
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,069MX$18.1K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$393MX$6,663
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,988MX$33.7K
$442VES 342.7K
349.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,304MX$22.1K
$291VES 225.5K
348.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,037MX$68.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,627MX$112.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Cabudare
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$747MX$12.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.6
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 18, 2026
Last update for Cabudare: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $50.0 in Cabudare. Groceries flip the comparison at $277 vs $223, with Cabudare cheaper for home cooking.
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 Cabudare: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Cabudare?
Cabudare wins on cost – living expenses run 162% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cabudare the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen and in Cabudare?
You'd need roughly $1,995 in Playa del Carmen and $762 in Cabudare to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Cabudare?
Dining out is cheaper in Cabudare – a meal for two runs $50.0 versus $46.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How expensive is transport in Playa del Carmen compared to Cabudare?
A monthly transit pass in Cabudare runs roughly 37% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or in Cabudare?
At $508 in Cabudare versus $1,330 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Cabudare but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Cabudare the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Cabudare?
Both work as nomad bases, but Cabudare delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $508 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Cabudare hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Cabudare gentler on the wallet – expenses run 162% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared