😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $23.22 in Cricova.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $29.00 in Cricova.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $34.47 in Cricova.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 5441% more expensive than Cricova, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen4% lower, Cricova98% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Cricova
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
-
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Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
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Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
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Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
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Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
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Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
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Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
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Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
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🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Cricova
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
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White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
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Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
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Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
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Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
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Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
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Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
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Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
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Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
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Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
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Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
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Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
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Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
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Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
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Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
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Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
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Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$11.44MDL 197
-10.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
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Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
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🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Cricova
Diferencia
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
-
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Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
-
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Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
-
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Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
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Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
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Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
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🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Cricova
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
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Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
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🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Cricova
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
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Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
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Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
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🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Cricova
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
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👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Cricova
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
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-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
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Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
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Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
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🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Cricova
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
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3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
-
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3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
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Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$2,836MDL 48.9K
39.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
$2,033MDL 35.1K
217.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Cricova
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$579MDL 9,981
24.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
0
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Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Última actualización para Cricova: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Playa del Carmen pays 25% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Playa del Carmen vs Cricova: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and Cricova?
Playa del Carmen and Cricova differ by about 5441% in total monthly costs ($1,287 vs $23.22 including rent). Cricova is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Playa del Carmen or Cricova?
Playa del Carmen pays 25% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 996% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Cricova?
All in, you'll spend $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $23.22 in Cricova – a 5441% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $23.22 in Cricova versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Cricova but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Cricova the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Cricova?
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.
Where should expats move: Playa del Carmen or Cricova?
Expats usually find Cricova gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5441% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado