๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,122 in Champotรณn.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,814 in Champotรณn.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,505 in Champotรณn.
๐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 16% more expensive than Champotรณn, driven mainly by Getting Around.
๐Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen3% lower, Champotรณn16% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Champotรณn
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$10.79MX$187
8.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$721
$49.32MX$855
-15.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$8.07MX$140
31.85%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$61.0
$3.70MX$64.2
-4.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.17
$1.16MX$20.08
30.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.87
$1.07MX$18.49
-9.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.1
$2.80MX$48.44
5.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.2
$4.04MX$70.0
10.15%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Champotรณn
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.97
$1.07MX$18.57
28.97%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.78
$2.13MX$36.96
-11.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.37
$1.54MX$26.73
6.49%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.42
$1.92MX$33.29
30.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$145
$10.10MX$175
-17.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$145
$6.96MX$121
19.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$186
$6.67MX$116
60.87%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.12
$2.82MX$48.85
-7.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.25
$1.42MX$24.55
2.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.94
$2.13MX$36.99
-10.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.98
$1.80MX$31.16
15.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.77
$2.17MX$37.63
-17.97%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.87
$1.96MX$34.03
11.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$18.02
$1.08MX$18.71
-3.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.66
$0.94MX$16.23
14.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.7
$4.17MX$72.2
-2.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$179
$10.08MX$175
2.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.67
$1.37MX$23.79
24.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.63
$2.88MX$49.91
-10.42%
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Champotรณn
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.83
$0.60MX$10.45
-15.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$459
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.5
$2.35MX$40.64
38.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.17
$1.58MX$27.43
57.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.3
$6.50MX$113
-50.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.65
$1.32MX$22.85
-0.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$524.7K
$15.9KMX$275.9K
90.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.0K
$21.6KMX$374.0K
8.56%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Champotรณn
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,436
$85.5MX$1,482
-3.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$385
$23.52MX$408
-5.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$508
$28.58MX$495
2.66%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Champotรณn
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$895
$35.64MX$618
44.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
$16.09MX$279
13.86%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.8
$4.67MX$80.9
8.57%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Champotรณn
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,480
$209MX$3,618
-3.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.3K
$3,460MX$60.0K
50.61%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Champotรณn
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$640
$55.6MX$963
-33.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$689
$47.96MX$831
-17.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,360
$89.6MX$1,553
-12.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,509
$84.5MX$1,464
3.10%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Champotรณn
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.9K
$516MX$8,947
88.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,105
$403MX$6,980
16.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$919MX$15.9K
78.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.2K
$755MX$13.1K
61.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.4K
$1,949MX$33.8K
102.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.6K
$1,150MX$19.9K
465.22%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Champotรณn
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
11.68
-2.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Last update for Champotรณn: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $516 in Champotรณn. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $49.00 in Champotรณn. Groceries flip the comparison at $249 vs $230, with Champotรณn cheaper for home cooking.
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 Champotรณn: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Champotรณn?
Champotรณn wins on cost โ living expenses run 16% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Champotรณn the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen vs Champotรณn?
You'd need roughly $1,945 in Playa del Carmen and $1,684 in Champotรณn to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen vs Champotรณn?
Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $516 in Champotรณn. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and Champotรณn?
Childcare runs $201 in Playa del Carmen versus $209 in Champotรณn. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen vs Champotรณn?
Dining out is cheaper in Champotรณn โ a meal for two runs $49.00 versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or Champotรณn?
At $1,122 in Champotรณn versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Champotรณn but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Champotรณn the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Champotรณn?
Both work as nomad bases, but Champotรณn delivers better value โ similar infrastructure at $1,122 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Champotรณn hard to pass up.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Champotรณn?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Champotรณn are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Champotรณn gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 16% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared