🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,303 in Champotón.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,075 in Champotón.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,374 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,847 in Champotón.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 1% less than in Champotón, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen6% lower, Champotón5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Champotón
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.71MX$198
$14.36MX$243
-18.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.59MX$788
$58.9MX$996
-20.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65MX$197
$8.67MX$147
34.37%
Cappuccino
$4.09MX$69.2
$4.31MX$72.8
-5.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37MX$23.23
$1.17MX$19.83
17.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83MX$14.09
$1.20MX$20.21
-30.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.35MX$56.7
$2.98MX$50.4
12.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91MX$117
$3.99MX$67.5
73.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Champotón
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73MX$29.20
$1.08MX$18.34
60.19%
White Bread(500g)
$2.26MX$38.21
$2.14MX$36.16
5.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$29.91
$1.87MX$31.57
-5.35%
Eggs
$2.73MX$46.19
$2.11MX$35.67
29.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.18MX$155
$11.12MX$188
-17.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.92MX$151
$8.55MX$144
4.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.60MX$213
$6.81MX$115
85.02%
Apples(1kg)
$3.02MX$51.1
$3.03MX$51.3
-0.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57MX$26.55
$1.56MX$26.37
0.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13MX$35.93
$2.26MX$38.17
-5.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.28
$2.14MX$36.10
5.61%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00MX$33.88
$2.40MX$40.56
-16.67%
Onion(1kg)
$2.06MX$34.90
$1.89MX$32.02
8.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18MX$19.94
$1.55MX$26.15
-23.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.35
$1.27MX$21.49
-5.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.63MX$78.4
$4.76MX$80.4
-2.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.69MX$181
$9.90MX$167
7.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.38
$1.62MX$27.41
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$48.70
$2.76MX$46.64
4.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Champotón
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.57MX$9.69
$0.70MX$11.79
-18.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.83MX$504
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$92.1
$3.01MX$50.9
81.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.70MX$62.6
$4.13MX$69.9
-10.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.98MX$101
$9.37MX$158
-36.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.26
$1.64MX$27.75
-5.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3KMX$377.4K
$22.3KMX$377.5K
-0.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9KMX$438.7K
$26.0KMX$439.6K
-0.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Champotón
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.1MX$1,507
$123MX$2,074
-27.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.04MX$423
$22.96MX$388
9.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.50MX$532
$37.56MX$635
-16.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Champotón
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.8MX$1,146
$32.29MX$546
109.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.92MX$489
$20.09MX$340
43.95%
Cinema Ticket
$5.05MX$85.4
$7.92MX$134
-36.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Champotón
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$225MX$3,803
$274MX$4,631
-17.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,222MX$71.4K
$3,924MX$66.3K
7.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Champotón
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.44MX$802
$59.5MX$1,006
-20.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98MX$760
$58.0MX$980
-22.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.0MX$1,386
$108MX$1,833
-24.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1MX$1,557
$88.3MX$1,493
4.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Champotón
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,069MX$18.1K
$709MX$12.0K
50.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$405MX$6,852
$447MX$7,558
-9.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,935MX$32.7K
$1,234MX$20.9K
56.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,301MX$22.0K
$852MX$14.4K
52.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,995MX$67.5K
$2,003MX$33.9K
99.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,626MX$112.0K
$1,060MX$17.9K
524.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Champotón
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$749MX$12.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
11.64
-1.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Last update for Champotón: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen and $709 in Champotón. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $59.0 in Champotón. Groceries flip the comparison at $277 vs $255, with Champotón 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 Champotón: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Champotón?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Champotón. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen and in Champotón?
You'd need roughly $1,940 in Playa del Carmen and $1,955 in Champotón 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 compared to Champotón?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $709 in Champotón. 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 in Champotón?
Childcare runs $225 in Playa del Carmen versus $274 in Champotón. 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 and in Champotón?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $59.0 in Champotón. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or in Champotón?
At $1,293 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,303 in Champotón, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Champotón. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Champotón?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,293 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Champotón?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Champotón 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 Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Champotón. 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