🙂A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,694 in Caceres, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,523 in Caceres, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,353 in Caceres, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 26% cheaper than Caceres, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Caceres is 27% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Caceres
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$210
$17.04€14.89
-29.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$731
$57.5€50.2
-27.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$188
$9.33€8.15
15.22%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$61.1
$1.75€1.53
100.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.33
$2.18€1.91
-33.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.47
$2.05€1.79
-57.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.6
$1.72€1.50
71.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.9
$3.38€2.95
33.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Caceres
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$25.04
$1.19€1.04
20.17%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$32.13
$1.09€0.96
68.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.42
$1.58€1.38
-0.63%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.92
$2.02€1.77
24.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$145
$22.53€19.69
-63.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$9.79€8.55
-13.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$187
$23.06€20.15
-53.69%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.62
$2.88€2.52
-9.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.15
$2.24€1.96
-35.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.31
$1.96€1.72
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.62
$4.20€3.67
-50.24%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.37
$1.86€1.63
-0.54%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.90
$2.06€1.80
5.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$18.04
$1.94€1.70
-46.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.78
$0.40€0.35
167.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.7
$6.46€5.64
-36.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$178
$10.06€8.79
1.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.29
$0.47€0.41
257.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$44.17
$1.79€1.57
41.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Caceres
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.90
$1.41€1.23
-63.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$455
$35.25€30.80
-26.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.5
$1.78€1.56
81.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$42.06
$1.38€1.20
74.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.5
$20.38€17.80
-84.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.10
$1.81€1.58
-27.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$519.2K
$38.1K€33.3K
-21.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$413.7K
$27.7K€24.2K
-14.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Caceres
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,434
$204€178
-59.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$401
$17.04€14.89
34.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$527
$22.99€20.09
30.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Caceres
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$909
$52.1€45.52
-0.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$324
$2.34€2.04
691.88%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$87.0
$6.30€5.50
-20.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Caceres
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,452
$263€230
-25.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$93.3K
$6,918€6,044
-22.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Caceres
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$622
$65.5€57.3
-45.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$705
$37.09€32.41
8.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,377
$77.3€67.6
1.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$89.9€78.5
-1.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Caceres
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.6K
$843€737
12.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,288
$696€608
-31.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.7K
$1,336€1,167
23.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.2K
$1,012€884
19.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$70.9K
$3,353€2,929
20.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$113.1K
$2,156€1,883
200.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Caceres
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
$2,175€1,900
-69.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
3.38
237.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Last update for Caceres: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $843 in Caceres. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 233% higher in Caceres, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $57.0 in Caceres. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $328 – 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 Caceres: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Caceres?
Caceres costs about 35% more than Playa del Carmen, 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 and in Caceres?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,541 in Caceres. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Caceres?
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.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Caceres?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $1,694 in Caceres. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Playa del Carmen compared to Caceres?
Public transport costs about 35% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or in Caceres?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Caceres at $1,694. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Caceres it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Caceres?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,256 versus $1,694 in Caceres. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Caceres?
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.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or to Caceres?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Caceres makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared