😐A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $746 in Cojutepeque, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,197 in Cojutepeque, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,648 in Cojutepeque, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 72% more than Cojutepeque, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Cojutepeque are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen4% lower, Cojutepeque44% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Cojutepeque
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$7.84$7.84
52.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$35.60$35.60
20.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$7.08$7.08
49.58%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$3.17$3.17
14.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$1.14$1.14
28.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$0.91$0.91
3.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$2.06$2.06
50.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$3.03$3.03
47.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Cojutepeque
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.87$1.87
-23.53%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$1.95$1.95
-3.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$1.48$1.48
10.14%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$2.89$2.89
-8.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$7.13$7.13
15.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$6.67$6.67
24.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$11.03$11.03
0.63%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$3.13$3.13
-15.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$1.68$1.68
-10.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$2.55$2.55
-21.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$2.74$2.74
-24.09%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$2.16$2.16
-17.13%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$2.18$2.18
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$1.01$1.01
6.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$1.04$1.04
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$4.06$4.06
-2.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$10.79$10.79
-5.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$1.78$1.78
-2.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$2.44$2.44
2.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Cojutepeque
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$5.58$5.58
-43.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$2.99$2.99
-19.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$19.86$19.86
-84.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$1.05$1.05
20.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$25.9K$25.9K
19.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$28.3K$28.3K
-17.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Cojutepeque
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$102$102
-19.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$19.36$19.36
15.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$42.46$42.46
-30.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Cojutepeque
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$5.29$5.29
-6.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Cojutepeque
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$145$145
36.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$5,995$5,995
-12.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Cojutepeque
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$65.9$65.9
-44.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$43.09$43.09
-7.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$114$114
-30.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$106$106
-15.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Cojutepeque
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Cojutepeque
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
8.58
33.10%
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 Cojutepeque: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $36.00 in Cojutepeque. Groceries tell a different story – $251 in Playa del Carmen vs $256 in Cojutepeque – so Playa del Carmen 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 Cojutepeque: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Cojutepeque?
Playa del Carmen costs about 72% more than Cojutepeque, 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 vs Cojutepeque?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,119 in Cojutepeque. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Cojutepeque?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $746 in Cojutepeque. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and Cojutepeque?
Kindergarten costs $198 per month in Playa del Carmen and $145 in Cojutepeque. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or Cojutepeque?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Cojutepeque, where all-in costs run around $746, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Cojutepeque it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Cojutepeque?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Cojutepeque costs $746 versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or Cojutepeque?
If budget matters most, go with Cojutepeque. 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