😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,294 in Playa del Carmen versus $384 in Cuttack.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,189 in Playa del Carmen versus $610 in Cuttack.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,084 in Playa del Carmen versus $836 in Cuttack.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 237% more expensive than Cuttack, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen3% lower, Cuttack71% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Cuttack
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$202
$1.64₹156
615.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$719
$8.77₹830
376.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.41MX$179
$4.52₹428
130.31%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.1
$1.53₹145
135.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46MX$25.06
$0.36₹33.60
305.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.70
$0.17₹16.01
470.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92MX$50.3
$1.39₹131
110.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62MX$79.5
$2.34₹222
97.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Cuttack
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.59
$0.55₹52.1
160.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90MX$32.70
$0.44₹42.00
331.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$26.95
$0.49₹46.33
220.41%
Eggs
$2.64MX$45.34
$0.96₹91.3
175.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.44MX$145
$3.84₹363
119.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.58MX$148
$2.68₹254
220.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.00MX$189
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.70MX$46.51
$2.29₹217
17.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$25.92
$0.67₹63.1
125.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.91MX$32.93
$1.41₹133
35.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.37
$0.46₹43.87
371.74%
Potato(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.25
$0.28₹26.51
567.86%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.43
$0.30₹28.64
643.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.60
$0.43₹40.84
151.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.47
$0.33₹30.84
224.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16MX$71.6
$2.37₹224
75.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.29MX$177
$4.74₹449
117.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$28.95
$1.75₹166
-4.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.59
$2.88₹273
-12.15%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$7.94₹751
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Cuttack
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.55MX$9.53
$0.24₹22.75
129.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.29MX$452
$12.86₹1,217
104.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.20MX$55.0
$0.24₹22.78
1233.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.37
$0.24₹22.81
925.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.20MX$55.0
$2.36₹223
35.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$22.72
$1.17₹110
12.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$518.8K
$10.8K₹1.0M
179.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$402.5K
$20.3K₹1.9M
15.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Cuttack
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.4MX$1,400
$37.46₹3,544
117.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.41MX$386
$3.25₹307
589.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.97MX$516
$8.61₹814
248.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Cuttack
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$887
$21.57₹2,041
139.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$316
$5.75₹544
219.83%
Cinema Ticket
$5.16MX$88.9
$3.56₹337
44.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Cuttack
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$202MX$3,471
$86.2₹8,156
134.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,311MX$91.4K
$2,053₹194.2K
158.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Cuttack
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.61MX$613
$16.38₹1,550
117.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.37MX$695
$13.82₹1,307
192.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.6MX$1,353
$52.5₹4,970
49.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.9MX$1,495
$25.34₹2,397
242.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Cuttack
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$950MX$16.3K
$154₹14.5K
518.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$478MX$8,227
$92.8₹8,775
415.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621MX$27.9K
$313₹29.6K
418.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,223MX$21.0K
$216₹20.4K
467.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,009MX$69.0K
$397₹37.6K
909.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,473MX$111.4K
$236₹22.4K
2637.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Cuttack
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$673MX$11.6K
$436₹41.2K
54.48%
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: June 15, 2026
Last update for Cuttack: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $950 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 $254 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 237% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Cuttack?
Playa del Carmen pays 54% more on average, 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: $950 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 vs Cuttack?
All in, you'll spend $1,294 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $384 in Cuttack – a 237% 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 104% 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 Playa del Carmen or Cuttack?
At $384 in Cuttack versus $1,294 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 237% 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 other spots: cost of living compared