Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Coral Gables, FL Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Coral Gables, FL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,651 in Coral Gables, FL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,863 in Coral Gables, FL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,362 in Playa del Carmen versus $5,074 in Coral Gables, FL.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 51% less than in Coral Gables, FL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 5% below, Coral Gables, FL is 92% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.96 MX$203

$17.32 $17.32

-30.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.38 MX$804

$74.7 $74.7

-36.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.75 MX$199

$10.04 $10.04

17.03%

Cappuccino

$4.12 MX$70.0

$5.12 $5.12

-19.53%

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

$1.40 MX$23.74

$2.98 $2.98

-53.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MX$15.48

$1.97 $1.97

-53.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 MX$54.4

$5.36 $5.36

-40.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.07 MX$120

$7.68 $7.68

-7.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.44

$0.87 $0.87

93.10%

White Bread (500g)

$2.15 MX$36.48

$4.29 $4.29

-49.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 MX$30.10

$3.12 $3.12

-43.27%

Eggs

$2.82 MX$47.76

$3.91 $3.91

-27.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.20 MX$156

$13.03 $13.03

-29.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.23 MX$157

$11.36 $11.36

-18.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.64 MX$214

$14.89 $14.89

-15.11%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MX$50.1

$4.64 $4.64

-36.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 MX$26.79

$1.50 $1.50

5.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 MX$37.70

$4.45 $4.45

-50.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.09

$5.51 $5.51

-57.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.99 MX$33.81

$2.91 $2.91

-31.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 MX$33.58

$3.06 $3.06

-35.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 MX$21.04

$2.29 $2.29

-45.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 MX$20.55

$1.26 $1.26

-3.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.60 MX$78.1

$9.32 $9.32

-50.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.52 MX$178

$15.27 $15.27

-31.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 MX$28.70

$2.09 $2.09

-19.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 MX$47.06

$3.22 $3.22

-13.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.22

$2.01 $2.01

-70.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$504

$113 $113

-73.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.24 MX$88.8

$2.87 $2.87

82.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.65 MX$61.9

$1.85 $1.85

97.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 MX$98.1

$23.80 $23.80

-75.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.09

$0.89 $0.89

73.03%

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

$22.8K MX$386.8K

$18.2K $18.2K

25.10%

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

$25.8K MX$437.9K

$21.2K $21.2K

21.63%

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

$90.7 MX$1,538

$169 $169

-46.42%

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

$25.19 MX$427

$39.65 $39.65

-36.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.75 MX$539

$59.4 $59.4

-46.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 MX$1,167

$41.35 $41.35

66.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$498

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$82.5

$13.00 $13.00

-62.62%

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

$226 MX$3,828

$908 $908

-75.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,194 MX$71.1K

$20.9K $20.9K

-79.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.38 MX$804

$75.5 $75.5

-37.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.45 MX$737

$56.3 $56.3

-22.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.2 MX$1,361

$116 $116

-30.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.4 MX$1,550

$104 $104

-11.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,086 MX$18.4K

$3,148 $3,148

-65.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$409 MX$6,933

$1,299 $1,299

-68.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,972 MX$33.5K

$2,521 $2,521

-21.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,281 MX$21.7K

$2,171 $2,171

-40.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,046 MX$68.6K

$2,799 $2,799

44.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,704 MX$113.7K

$2,368 $2,368

183.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$773 MX$13.1K

$5,742 $5,742

-86.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

6.1

87.70%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Last update for Coral Gables, FL: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,086 in Playa del Carmen and $3,148 in Coral Gables, FL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Coral Gables, FL pays 643% 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: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $75.0 in Coral Gables, FL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $278 vs $384 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 Coral Gables, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen and Coral Gables, FL differ by about 103% in total monthly costs ($1,305 vs $2,651 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 643% lower in Coral Gables, FL. 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: $1,086 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,148 in Coral Gables, FL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,305 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,651 in Coral Gables, FL – a 103% 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 282% less than in Coral Gables, FL. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,305 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,651 in Coral Gables, FL, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Coral Gables, FL. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 103% less than in Coral Gables, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.