😐A single person spends $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $778 in Cachoeirinha, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,130 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,244 in Cachoeirinha, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,999 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,710 in Cachoeirinha, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 62% more than Cachoeirinha, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Cachoeirinha are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen6% lower, Cachoeirinha42% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Cachoeirinha
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.67MX$202
$3.96R$19.67
194.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.88MX$726
$17.95R$89.2
133.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.40MX$180
$3.94R$19.59
163.96%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.6
$1.86R$9.25
94.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.45
$0.58R$2.86
153.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.80
$0.40R$1.97
127.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$1.59R$7.89
90.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47MX$77.4
$2.76R$13.70
61.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Cachoeirinha
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.83
$0.85R$4.25
62.35%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.93
$1.45R$7.20
26.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.82
$1.09R$5.43
47.71%
Eggs
$2.57MX$44.52
$2.15R$10.69
19.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$10.89R$54.1
-22.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$4.63R$23.02
83.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.99MX$190
$9.14R$45.43
20.24%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.25
$1.97R$9.78
38.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.92
$1.26R$6.27
19.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.93
$1.27R$6.34
54.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.70
$1.45R$7.18
46.21%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.30
$1.10R$5.46
69.09%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.67
$1.04R$5.16
108.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.59
$0.72R$3.60
48.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05MX$18.18
$0.62R$3.08
69.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.6
$2.00R$9.92
109.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.28MX$178
$8.08R$40.17
27.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.87
$0.99R$4.90
68.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49MX$43.12
$1.80R$8.96
38.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Cachoeirinha
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$0.86R$4.30
-37.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.27MX$455
$37.78R$188
-30.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10MX$53.8
$1.61R$8.00
92.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.66
$1.05R$5.20
134.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.1
$5.48R$27.24
-40.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.83
$1.09R$5.42
15.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$522.8K
$23.9KR$118.8K
26.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.3K
$27.4KR$136.0K
-14.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Cachoeirinha
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0MX$1,456
$59.9R$298
40.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21MX$385
$14.40R$71.6
54.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65MX$514
$20.33R$101
45.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Cachoeirinha
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.6MX$912
$22.08R$110
138.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.34MX$318
$21.20R$105
-13.49%
Cinema Ticket
$4.95MX$85.7
$6.36R$31.61
-22.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Cachoeirinha
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,438
$313R$1,555
-36.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,322MX$92.2K
$7,337R$36.5K
-27.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Cachoeirinha
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.95MX$623
$49.73R$247
-27.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06MX$694
$57.9R$288
-30.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,365
$81.6R$406
-3.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,499
$62.7R$312
37.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Cachoeirinha
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$977MX$16.9K
$320R$1,588
205.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$471MX$8,158
$214R$1,066
119.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595MX$27.6K
$581R$2,888
174.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,215MX$21.1K
$423R$2,103
187.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,032MX$69.9K
$1,704R$8,470
136.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,579MX$114.0K
$1,350R$6,709
387.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Cachoeirinha
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$714MX$12.4K
$641R$3,185
11.44%
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 Cachoeirinha: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $320 in Cachoeirinha. 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 11% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 in Playa del Carmen versus $18 in Cachoeirinha. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $189 – making Cachoeirinha 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 Cachoeirinha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and Cachoeirinha compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, $778 in Cachoeirinha – roughly 62% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Cachoeirinha?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,891 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,167 in Cachoeirinha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Playa del Carmen and Cachoeirinha?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cachoeirinha, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Playa del Carmen and Cachoeirinha?
Kindergarten costs $198 per month in Playa del Carmen and $313 in Cachoeirinha. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 33% 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.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Cachoeirinha, where all-in costs run around $778, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,261. In Cachoeirinha it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Cachoeirinha?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $778 in Cachoeirinha to $1,261 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Cachoeirinha?
If budget matters most, go with Cachoeirinha. 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