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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,437 in Coronado.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,279 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,289 in Coronado.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,292 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,141 in Coronado.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 12% less than in Coronado, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 7% below, Coronado is 5% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.60 MX$200

$12.17 PAB 12.17

-4.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.11 MX$812

$54.2 PAB 54.2

-13.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.88 MX$205

$8.63 PAB 8.63

37.66%

Cappuccino

$3.98 MX$68.6

$4.56 PAB 4.56

-12.72%

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

$1.43 MX$24.60

$0.91 PAB 0.91

57.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 MX$14.22

$0.94 PAB 0.94

-12.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$55.0

$0.97 PAB 0.97

228.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 MX$117

$2.97 PAB 2.97

128.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.89

$1.88 PAB 1.88

-10.64%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 MX$37.88

$1.55 PAB 1.55

41.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.45

$2.91 PAB 2.91

-41.24%

Eggs

$2.74 MX$47.26

$2.39 PAB 2.39

14.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 MX$165

$11.90 PAB 11.90

-19.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.01 MX$155

$6.86 PAB 6.86

31.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.81 MX$221

$9.06 PAB 9.06

41.39%

Apples (1kg)

$2.89 MX$49.81

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.81

$0.97 PAB 0.97

54.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 MX$37.03

$2.97 PAB 2.97

-27.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.96

$2.87 PAB 2.87

-21.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 MX$34.15

$1.78 PAB 1.78

11.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.30

$1.93 PAB 1.93

3.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 MX$21.28

$2.21 PAB 2.21

-44.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.63

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 MX$78.5

$6.04 PAB 6.04

-24.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.37 MX$179

$9.86 PAB 9.86

5.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.91

$0.73 PAB 0.73

121.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$49.67

$0.74 PAB 0.74

289.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.35

$0.99 PAB 0.99

-39.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$497

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.39 MX$92.9

$1.48 PAB 1.48

264.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.73 MX$64.3

$1.54 PAB 1.54

142.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.5

$9.85 PAB 9.85

-41.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.48

$0.98 PAB 0.98

57.14%

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

$22.5K MX$388.8K

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

$26.1K MX$449.3K

$34.6K PAB 34.6K

-24.72%

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

$91.4 MX$1,576

$141 PAB 141

-35.14%

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

$25.20 MX$435

$21.39 PAB 21.39

17.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.24 MX$539

$58.0 PAB 58.0

-46.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 MX$1,159

$60.9 PAB 60.9

10.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$502

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$83.8

$3.35 PAB 3.35

45.07%

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

$224 MX$3,856

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,229 MX$72.9K

$5,905 PAB 5,905

-28.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 MX$812

$44.82 PAB 44.82

5.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.29 MX$764

$29.93 PAB 29.93

47.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 MX$1,381

$102 PAB 102

-21.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 MX$1,598

$132 PAB 132

-29.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,063 MX$18.3K

$751 PAB 751

41.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MX$6,728

$561 PAB 561

-30.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 MX$37.1K

$1,232 PAB 1,232

74.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 MX$21.9K

$1,277 PAB 1,277

-0.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$112.1K

$2,005 PAB 2,005

224.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$758 MX$13.1K

$596 PAB 596

27.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

90.83%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Last update for Coronado: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen and $751 in Coronado. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 27% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $54.0 in Coronado. Groceries flip the comparison at $276 vs $228, with Coronado 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 Coronado: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Coronado. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 27% higher in Playa del Carmen, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $751 in Coronado. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,437 in Coronado – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Shoppers in Coronado pay roughly 21% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

At $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,437 in Coronado, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Coronado. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,266 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Coronado are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Coronado. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.