😐A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $392 in Dadeldhurā, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $659 in Dadeldhurā, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $926 in Dadeldhurā, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 220% more than Dadeldhurā, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Dadeldhurā are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen6% lower, Dadeldhurā71% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Dadeldhurā
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$209
$1.81NPR 279
562.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$728
$19.17NPR 2,956
117.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$187
$6.65NPR 1,026
61.65%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$60.9
$1.55NPR 240
125.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.22
$0.51NPR 78.0
184.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.41
$0.18NPR 28.21
388.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.3
$2.53NPR 390
16.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.6
$3.74NPR 577
20.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Dadeldhurā
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$0.79NPR 122
81.01%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.99
$0.59NPR 91.0
211.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.31
$0.80NPR 123
96.25%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.74
$1.65NPR 254
52.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$144
$7.31NPR 1,127
13.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$3.11NPR 480
171.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$186
$6.09NPR 939
75.37%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.43
$2.19NPR 337
19.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.04
$1.09NPR 169
32.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.16
$1.24NPR 191
58.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.47
$0.64NPR 98.2
226.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.24
$0.45NPR 69.8
311.11%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.74
$0.67NPR 103
223.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$17.96
$0.53NPR 81.4
94.34%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.70
$0.25NPR 38.51
328.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.4
$2.98NPR 459
37.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$177
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.17
$2.27NPR 350
-25.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.98
$3.35NPR 516
-24.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Dadeldhurā
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.87
$0.20NPR 30.33
155.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$453
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.3
$2.23NPR 343
44.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$41.88
$0.78NPR 120
208.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.2
$3.67NPR 566
-11.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.00
$1.28NPR 197
3.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$517.1K
$32.5KNPR 5.0M
-8.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$412.0K
$41.1KNPR 6.3M
-42.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Dadeldhurā
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,428
$26.87NPR 4,143
205.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$400
$4.80NPR 740
378.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$524
$9.87NPR 1,523
205.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Dadeldhurā
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$905
$18.29NPR 2,821
184.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$323
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$86.6
$2.77NPR 427
79.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Dadeldhurā
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,438
$71.7NPR 11.1K
175.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$92.9K
$2,696NPR 415.7K
97.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Dadeldhurā
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$620
$25.18NPR 3,883
41.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
$27.73NPR 4,276
45.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,371
$46.18NPR 7,121
70.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,549
$28.80NPR 4,441
208.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Dadeldhurā
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.5K
$105NPR 16.1K
804.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,254
$63.7NPR 9,830
643.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.6K
$207NPR 32.0K
693.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.1K
$143NPR 22.1K
746.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$70.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$112.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Dadeldhurā
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
$98.8NPR 15.2K
561.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
12.08
-5.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026
Last update for Dadeldhurā: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $105 in Dadeldhurā. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 562% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $19.00 in Dadeldhurā. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $131 – making Dadeldhurā the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Dadeldhurā: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Dadeldhurā?
Playa del Carmen costs about 220% more than Dadeldhurā, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen and in Dadeldhurā?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $588 in Dadeldhurā. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Dadeldhurā?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Dadeldhurā, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Dadeldhurā?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen and $19.00 in Dadeldhurā. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or in Dadeldhurā?
Groceries cost about 90% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or in Dadeldhurā?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Dadeldhurā, where all-in costs run around $392, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Dadeldhurā it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Dadeldhurā?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dadeldhurā costs $392 versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Dadeldhurā?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or to Dadeldhurā?
If budget matters most, go with Dadeldhurā. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared