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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $389 in Cuttack.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,125 in Playa del Carmen versus $609 in Cuttack.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,990 in Playa del Carmen versus $830 in Cuttack.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 224% more expensive than in Cuttack, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Cuttack 71% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Cuttack
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72 MX$203
$1.67 ₹160
601.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89 MX$725
$9.23 ₹880
353.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 MX$182
$4.55 ₹434
130.99%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.0
$1.53 ₹146
134.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.10
$0.35 ₹33.84
331.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 MX$15.83
$0.13 ₹12.85
607.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.96 MX$51.2
$1.38 ₹132
114.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41 MX$76.3
$2.31 ₹221
90.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Cuttack
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 MX$24.16
$0.61 ₹58.0
129.51%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.60
$0.41 ₹39.12
358.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 MX$26.97
$0.48 ₹45.48
225.00%
Eggs
$2.61 MX$45.14
$0.90 ₹85.6
190.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.32 MX$144
$3.78 ₹360
120.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.35 MX$145
$2.68 ₹256
211.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 MX$188
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 MX$46.93
$2.27 ₹216
19.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$26.04
$0.72 ₹68.2
109.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.41
$1.43 ₹136
30.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.89
$0.47 ₹44.54
365.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$32.14
$0.28 ₹26.84
564.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 MX$38.59
$0.30 ₹28.80
643.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.48
$0.43 ₹40.86
148.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.79
$0.35 ₹33.77
211.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MX$72.4
$2.37 ₹226
76.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.43 MX$180
$4.66 ₹445
123.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 MX$28.68
$1.73 ₹165
-4.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$45.19
$2.97 ₹283
-12.12%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$8.21 ₹783
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Cuttack
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.37
$0.22 ₹20.96
145.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.16 MX$453
$12.57 ₹1,199
108.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 MX$53.3
$0.24 ₹22.95
1183.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$41.61
$0.22 ₹20.90
990.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$54.1
$2.37 ₹226
32.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.69
$1.20 ₹115
9.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K MX$515.7K
$10.8K ₹1.0M
175.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$403.5K
$20.7K ₹2.0M
12.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Cuttack
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 MX$1,406
$37.65 ₹3,591
115.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56 MX$390
$3.34 ₹319
575.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05 MX$520
$8.67 ₹827
246.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Cuttack
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.9 MX$915
$21.04 ₹2,006
151.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 MX$318
$5.97 ₹569
208.04%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92 MX$85.1
$3.55 ₹339
38.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Cuttack
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,474
$85.3 ₹8,135
135.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,175 MX$89.5K
$2,011 ₹191.8K
157.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Cuttack
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92 MX$622
$16.29 ₹1,553
120.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13 MX$694
$13.72 ₹1,308
192.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.7 MX$1,379
$52.0 ₹4,957
53.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5 MX$1,496
$24.78 ₹2,363
248.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Cuttack
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$978 MX$16.9K
$154 ₹14.7K
536.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 MX$8,140
$91.3 ₹8,711
415.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,651 MX$28.6K
$316 ₹30.1K
422.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,203 MX$20.8K
$215 ₹20.5K
459.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,953 MX$68.4K
$400 ₹38.1K
889.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,607 MX$114.3K
$232 ₹22.1K
2753.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Cuttack
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$677 MX$11.7K
$439 ₹41.9K
54.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
7.35
55.37%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Last update for Cuttack: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $978 in Playa del Carmen and $154 in Cuttack. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 54% 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 $9.00 in Cuttack for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $95.0 per month, with Cuttack 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 Cuttack: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cuttack cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Cuttack is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 224% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Cuttack?
Average pay runs 54% 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.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Cuttack?
Rent for a central apartment: $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $154 in Cuttack. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Cuttack?
All in, you'll spend $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $389 in Cuttack – a 224% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Cuttack runs roughly 108% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Cuttack?
At $389 in Cuttack versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cuttack but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Cuttack the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Cuttack more family-friendly?
For families, Cuttack is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Cuttack?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Cuttack 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Cuttack gentler on the wallet – expenses run 224% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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