🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,803 in Colleferro.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,773 in Colleferro.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,742 in Colleferro.
🙂Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 29% less than in Colleferro, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 4% below, Colleferro is 35% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Colleferro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$22.85€19.56
-47.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$91.8€78.6
-53.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$11.77€10.08
-10.03%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$1.75€1.50
106.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$1.14€0.98
28.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$0.61€0.52
54.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$6.84€5.86
-54.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$6.76€5.78
-34.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Colleferro
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.65€1.41
-13.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$1.60€1.37
17.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$4.46€3.81
-63.45%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$4.21€3.60
-37.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$20.93€17.91
-60.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$11.27€9.65
-26.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$20.37€17.44
-45.51%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$2.77€2.37
-4.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$1.85€1.58
-18.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$2.91€2.49
-31.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$3.62€3.10
-42.54%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$1.63€1.40
9.82%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$1.71€1.46
27.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$1.71€1.46
-36.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.28€0.24
271.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$7.00€5.99
-43.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$8.08€6.92
26.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$1.70€1.46
1.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$2.46€2.11
1.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Colleferro
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$1.69€1.45
-69.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
$43.33€37.09
-37.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$5.94€5.08
-47.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$1.79€1.54
34.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$36.46€31.21
-91.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$2.03€1.74
-37.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$32.3K€27.7K
-4.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$31.0K€26.5K
-24.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Colleferro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$211€181
-61.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$14.00€11.98
60.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$35.21€30.14
-15.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Colleferro
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$54.6€46.74
-5.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
$23.18€19.85
-19.46%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$9.15€7.83
-45.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Colleferro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$756€647
-73.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$7,945€6,801
-33.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Colleferro
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$85.7€73.4
-57.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$30.70€26.28
30.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$87.0€74.5
-8.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$146€125
-39.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Colleferro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$740€633
30.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$590€505
-21.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$1,221€1,045
30.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$924€791
30.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$3,040€2,603
29.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
$2,368€2,027
172.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Colleferro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$2,788€2,386
-74.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
3.96
188.38%
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 Colleferro: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $740 in Colleferro. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Colleferro pays 287% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $92.0 in Colleferro for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $350 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
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 Colleferro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Colleferro?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 40% lower than in Colleferro. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or Colleferro?
On paper, Colleferro earns 287% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen vs Colleferro?
Rent for a central apartment: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $740 in Colleferro. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen vs Colleferro?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $92.0 in Colleferro. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Colleferro?
All in, you'll spend $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,803 in Colleferro – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or Colleferro?
At $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,803 in Colleferro, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Colleferro. 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 Colleferro?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,287 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 Colleferro?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Colleferro 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 40% less than in Colleferro. 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