🙂A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,846 in Cadiz, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,378 in Cadiz, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,910 in Cadiz, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 31% cheaper than Cadiz, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 7% below the global median, while Cadiz is 35% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Cadiz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$16.49€14.37
-29.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$812
$51.2€44.65
-8.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$11.74€10.24
1.19%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.6
$2.63€2.29
51.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.60
$2.41€2.10
-40.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.22
$1.62€1.42
-49.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$55.0
$3.15€2.74
1.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$3.52€3.07
92.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Cadiz
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.89
$1.05€0.91
60.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.88
$1.44€1.26
52.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.45
$1.49€1.30
14.77%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.26
$3.57€3.12
-23.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
$15.58€13.58
-38.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$8.49€7.40
6.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
$15.04€13.11
-14.83%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.81
$2.14€1.86
35.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.81
$1.31€1.14
14.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.03
$1.73€1.51
24.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.96
$1.66€1.45
36.14%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.15
$0.97€0.84
104.12%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.30
$1.87€1.63
6.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.28
$1.23€1.08
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.63
$0.62€0.54
93.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.5
$5.79€5.04
-21.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
$6.28€5.48
65.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.91
$1.01€0.88
60.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.67
$2.40€2.10
20.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Cadiz
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.35
$1.29€1.12
-53.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$497
$23.54€20.52
22.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.9
$1.96€1.71
175.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.3
$1.26€1.09
196.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.5
$23.29€20.30
-75.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.48
$1.78€1.55
-13.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.8K
$36.8K€32.1K
-38.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$449.3K
$29.8K€26.0K
-12.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Cadiz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,576
$139€121
-34.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$435
$9.39€8.19
168.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$539
$26.77€23.34
16.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Cadiz
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,159
$46.49€40.53
44.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$502
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.8
$9.64€8.41
-49.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Cadiz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,856
$318€277
-29.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.9K
$10.4K€9,051
-59.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Cadiz
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$812
$93.1€81.2
-49.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$764
$17.54€15.29
152.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,381
$86.4€75.3
-7.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,598
$80.3€70.0
15.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Cadiz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
$863€752
23.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,728
$908€792
-57.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.1K
$1,099€958
95.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
$906€790
40.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$69.0K
$3,456€3,013
15.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$112.1K
$3,799€3,312
71.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Cadiz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.1K
$2,223€1,938
-65.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
3.31
245.92%
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 Cadiz: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $863 in Cadiz. 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 193% higher in Cadiz, 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $51.0 in Cadiz. Groceries tell a different story – $276 in Playa del Carmen vs $255 in Cadiz – so Cadiz wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Cadiz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Cadiz?
Cadiz costs about 46% more than Playa del Carmen, 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 Cadiz?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,769 in Cadiz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Cadiz?
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.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or in Cadiz?
Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Cadiz – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Cadiz?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen and $51.0 in Cadiz. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or in Cadiz?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,266, than in Cadiz at $1,846. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cadiz it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Cadiz?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,266 versus $1,846 in Cadiz. 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 Cadiz?
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 Cadiz?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cadiz makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared