Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Candelaria Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Candelaria

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,259 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,436 in Candelaria, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,177 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,144 in Candelaria, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,095 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,852 in Candelaria, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 12% cheaper than Candelaria, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Candelaria is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.95 MX$209

$18.74 $18.74

-36.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.94 MX$733

$81.7 $81.7

-48.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.42 MX$182

$9.90 $9.90

5.25%

Cappuccino

$3.51 MX$61.4

$3.57 $3.57

-1.68%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 MX$26.50

$1.73 $1.73

-12.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MX$15.91

$1.44 $1.44

-36.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 MX$53.1

$2.92 $2.92

4.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 MX$76.4

$4.60 $4.60

-5.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 MX$24.84

$2.42 $2.42

-41.32%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 MX$32.00

$3.55 $3.55

-48.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 MX$28.57

$2.20 $2.20

-25.91%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$44.38

$6.08 $6.08

-58.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.57 MX$150

$8.71 $8.71

-1.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.49 MX$148

$8.32 $8.32

2.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 MX$189

$12.65 $12.65

-14.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 MX$48.14

$6.02 $6.02

-54.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MX$25.10

$2.73 $2.73

-47.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 MX$32.97

$3.97 $3.97

-52.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.93

$4.00 $4.00

-45.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$31.10

$3.93 $3.93

-54.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.22 MX$38.87

$2.94 $2.94

-24.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.68

$3.03 $3.03

-64.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.87

$1.98 $1.98

-45.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.15 MX$72.5

$12.10 $12.10

-65.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.45 MX$183

$15.37 $15.37

-32.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 MX$30.47

$2.55 $2.55

-31.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$45.11

$3.24 $3.24

-20.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.97

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.94 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.21 MX$56.1

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.50 MX$43.73

$1.52 $1.52

64.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 MX$55.7

$15.22 $15.22

-79.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 MX$21.96

$1.01 $1.01

24.75%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.7K MX$518.8K

$35.4K $35.4K

-16.05%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.7K MX$413.9K

$26.3K $26.3K

-9.85%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.0 MX$1,434

$483 $483

-83.01%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.73 MX$397

$78.9 $78.9

-71.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.42 MX$514

$72.9 $72.9

-59.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.2 MX$912

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.45 MX$322

Cinema Ticket

$4.93 MX$86.2

$12.06 $12.06

-59.12%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$202 MX$3,526

$476 $476

-57.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,217 MX$91.2K

$10.2K $10.2K

-48.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.93 MX$628

$45.71 $45.71

-21.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$705

$55.3 $55.3

-27.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 MX$1,396

$92.4 $92.4

-13.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.3 MX$1,561

$106 $106

-16.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$948 MX$16.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MX$8,132

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,630 MX$28.5K

$1,794 $1,794

-9.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,193 MX$20.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,933 MX$68.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,428 MX$112.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$658 MX$11.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

5.71

100.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 20, 2026

Last update for Candelaria: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $82.0 in Candelaria. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $384 – 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 Candelaria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,259 in Playa del Carmen, $1,436 in Candelaria – roughly 14% apart. Candelaria costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,888 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,153 in Candelaria. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,259 in Playa del Carmen and $1,436 in Candelaria. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $202 per month in Playa del Carmen and $476 in Candelaria. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,259, than in Candelaria at $1,436. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Candelaria it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,259 in Playa del Carmen to $1,436 in Candelaria. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Candelaria makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.