Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Coquitlam Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Coquitlam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,945 in Coquitlam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,137 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,066 in Coquitlam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,017 in Playa del Carmen versus $5,187 in Coquitlam.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 57% less than in Coquitlam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Coquitlam is 120% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.99 MX$209

$14.63 CA$20.59

-18.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$728

$52.3 CA$73.6

-20.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.75 MX$187

$10.14 CA$14.26

6.02%

Cappuccino

$3.50 MX$60.9

$3.70 CA$5.20

-5.41%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 MX$25.22

$1.98 CA$2.79

-26.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 MX$15.41

$2.09 CA$2.94

-57.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.3

$5.26 CA$7.41

-43.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 MX$78.6

$5.86 CA$8.24

-23.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.94

$1.52 CA$2.14

-5.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$31.99

$3.11 CA$4.38

-40.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$27.31

$2.18 CA$3.07

-27.98%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.74

$4.03 CA$5.67

-37.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.28 MX$144

$10.21 CA$14.37

-18.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$147

$16.17 CA$22.76

-47.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.68 MX$186

$14.74 CA$20.74

-27.54%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 MX$45.43

$4.54 CA$6.39

-42.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MX$25.04

$1.39 CA$1.96

3.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$34.16

$4.98 CA$7.01

-60.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$36.47

$4.52 CA$6.37

-53.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 MX$32.24

$1.59 CA$2.24

16.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.74

$1.76 CA$2.48

23.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 MX$17.96

$3.00 CA$4.23

-65.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.70

$1.12 CA$1.57

-4.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MX$71.4

$14.39 CA$20.25

-71.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 MX$177

$11.85 CA$16.68

-14.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$29.17

$3.74 CA$5.26

-55.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$43.98

$2.32 CA$3.26

9.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.87

$2.36 CA$3.32

-78.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$453

$76.1 CA$107

-65.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.3

$2.66 CA$3.74

21.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.41 MX$41.88

$1.58 CA$2.23

52.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.2

$25.14 CA$35.38

-87.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$23.00

$1.32 CA$1.85

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.7K MX$517.1K

$24.6K CA$34.6K

20.72%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.7K MX$412.0K

$20.3K CA$28.6K

16.28%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.0 MX$1,428

$137 CA$193

-40.13%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.95 MX$400

$37.52 CA$52.8

-38.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.11 MX$524

$58.8 CA$82.7

-48.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$905

$27.63 CA$38.88

88.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$323

$11.22 CA$15.79

65.15%

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MX$86.6

$11.01 CA$15.50

-54.77%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$197 MX$3,438

$1,216 CA$1,711

-83.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$92.9K

$12.1K CA$17.0K

-55.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.60 MX$620

$71.2 CA$100

-50.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$702

$45.29 CA$63.7

-10.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,371

$97.3 CA$137

-19.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,549

$115 CA$162

-22.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 MX$16.5K

$2,061 CA$2,901

-54.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,254

$1,806 CA$2,541

-73.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 MX$28.6K

$3,625 CA$5,101

-54.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 MX$21.1K

$2,670 CA$3,757

-54.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$70.6K

$6,118 CA$8,609

-33.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$112.7K

$4,906 CA$6,904

31.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 MX$11.4K

$3,074 CA$4,326

-78.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

6.61

72.77%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Last update for Coquitlam: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $947 in Playa del Carmen and $2,061 in Coquitlam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Coquitlam pays 370% 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: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $52.0 in Coquitlam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $381 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 Coquitlam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 134% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 370% lower in Coquitlam. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,061 in Coquitlam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,945 in Coquitlam – a 134% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 192% less than in Coquitlam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,945 in Coquitlam, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Coquitlam. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Coquitlam, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 134% less than in Coquitlam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.