😐A single person spends $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $752 in Cachoeira do Sul, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,130 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,162 in Cachoeira do Sul, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,999 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,571 in Cachoeira do Sul, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 68% more than Cachoeira do Sul, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Cachoeira do Sul are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen6% lower, Cachoeira do Sul44% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Cachoeira do Sul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.67MX$202
$4.51R$22.43
158.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.88MX$726
$17.90R$89.0
133.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.40MX$180
$6.33R$31.44
64.30%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.6
$1.93R$9.61
87.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.45
$1.17R$5.82
25.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.80
$0.76R$3.79
19.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$2.11R$10.49
43.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47MX$77.4
$3.52R$17.51
26.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Cachoeira do Sul
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.83
$0.78R$3.87
76.92%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.93
$0.63R$3.15
192.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.82
$0.92R$4.56
75.00%
Eggs
$2.57MX$44.52
$1.64R$8.13
56.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$7.15R$35.55
18.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$4.65R$23.10
82.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.99MX$190
$6.86R$34.10
60.20%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.25
$2.04R$10.16
33.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.92
$0.65R$3.23
130.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.93
$0.47R$2.35
317.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.70
$0.80R$3.97
165.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.30
$0.93R$4.62
100.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.67
$1.07R$5.32
102.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.59
$0.73R$3.64
46.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05MX$18.18
$0.31R$1.52
238.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.6
$1.47R$7.32
185.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.28MX$178
$6.02R$29.90
70.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.87
$0.94R$4.65
77.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49MX$43.12
$1.50R$7.48
66.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Cachoeira do Sul
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$1.12R$5.57
-51.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.27MX$455
$38.82R$193
-32.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10MX$53.8
$1.43R$7.08
116.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.66
$1.01R$5.01
143.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.1
$5.52R$27.44
-41.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.83
$0.91R$4.54
38.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$522.8K
$21.2KR$105.3K
42.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.3K
$28.1KR$139.7K
-16.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Cachoeira do Sul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0MX$1,456
$61.1R$304
37.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21MX$385
$14.52R$72.2
52.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65MX$514
$19.43R$96.6
52.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Cachoeira do Sul
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.6MX$912
$22.48R$112
134.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.34MX$318
$21.41R$106
-14.34%
Cinema Ticket
$4.95MX$85.7
$6.34R$31.53
-21.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Cachoeira do Sul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,438
$306R$1,522
-35.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,322MX$92.2K
$7,341R$36.5K
-27.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Cachoeira do Sul
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.95MX$623
$48.83R$243
-26.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06MX$694
$58.1R$289
-31.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,365
$79.9R$397
-1.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,499
$64.1R$318
35.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Cachoeira do Sul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$977MX$16.9K
$319R$1,587
205.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$471MX$8,158
$215R$1,068
119.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595MX$27.6K
$578R$2,873
176.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,215MX$21.1K
$427R$2,121
184.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,032MX$69.9K
$1,865R$9,270
116.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,579MX$114.0K
$1,216R$6,044
440.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Cachoeira do Sul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$714MX$12.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
10
14.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Last update for Cachoeira do Sul: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $319 in Cachoeira do Sul. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42 in Playa del Carmen versus $18 in Cachoeira do Sul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $141 – making Cachoeira do Sul 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 Cachoeira do Sul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cachoeira do Sul cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 68%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,891 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,129 in Cachoeira do Sul. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cachoeira do Sul, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Cachoeira do Sul?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,261 in Playa del Carmen and $752 in Cachoeira do Sul. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 48% less in Cachoeira do Sul. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Cachoeira do Sul?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cachoeira do Sul, where all-in costs run around $752, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,261. In Cachoeira do Sul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Cachoeira do Sul more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Cachoeira do Sul – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Cachoeira do Sul. 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