😐A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $830 in Cartago, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,258 in Cartago, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,686 in Cartago, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 55% more than Cartago, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Cartago are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen4% lower, Cartago38% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Cartago
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$3.69COP 13.3K
223.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$28.64COP 103.4K
49.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$7.16COP 25.9K
47.91%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$1.63COP 5,867
122.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$0.94COP 3,398
56.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$0.56COP 2,026
67.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$1.01COP 3,663
205.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$2.51COP 9,070
77.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Cartago
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.26COP 4,549
13.49%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$1.51COP 5,457
24.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$1.24COP 4,481
31.45%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$2.58COP 9,313
2.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$4.15COP 15.0K
97.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$5.50COP 19.9K
50.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$7.76COP 28.0K
43.04%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$2.50COP 9,022
6.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$0.97COP 3,503
54.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$1.15COP 4,149
73.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$1.25COP 4,518
66.40%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$0.88COP 3,162
103.41%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$1.11COP 4,010
96.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$0.72COP 2,597
50.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.68COP 2,459
52.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$2.84COP 10.3K
39.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$11.44COP 41.3K
-10.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$1.08COP 3,885
60.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$1.92COP 6,930
30.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Cartago
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$0.73COP 2,649
-28.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
$30.35COP 109.6K
-11.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$1.59COP 5,736
97.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$1.95COP 7,029
23.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$9.46COP 34.2K
-67.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$0.95COP 3,422
33.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$22.2KCOP 80.2M
38.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$29.9KCOP 107.8M
-21.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Cartago
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$81.2COP 293.0K
1.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$9.09COP 32.8K
146.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$24.36COP 87.9K
21.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Cartago
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$23.12COP 83.5K
124.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$4.70COP 17.0K
5.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Cartago
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$222COP 801.6K
-10.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$5,904COP 21.3M
-10.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Cartago
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$63.2COP 228.0K
-42.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$44.18COP 159.5K
-9.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$78.6COP 283.6K
1.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$89.9COP 324.7K
-1.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Cartago
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$288COP 1.0M
234.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$236COP 851.2K
97.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$524COP 1.9M
204.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$430COP 1.6M
180.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$1,776COP 6.4M
121.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
$1,493COP 5.4M
331.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Cartago
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$327COP 1.2M
120.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
11.58
-1.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Last update for Cartago: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $288 in Cartago. 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 120% 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $29.00 in Cartago. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $183 – making Cartago 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 Cartago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cartago cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 55%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,245 in Cartago. 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 Cartago, 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 Cartago?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $830 in Cartago. 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 13% less in Cartago. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Cartago?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cartago, where all-in costs run around $830, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Cartago it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Cartago more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Cartago – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Cartago?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Cartago. 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