๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,326 in Danilovgrad.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,130 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,988 in Danilovgrad.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,999 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,649 in Danilovgrad.
๐Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 5% less than in Danilovgrad, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen6% lower, Danilovgrad1% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Danilovgrad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.67MX$202
$9.62โฌ8.20
21.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.88MX$726
$46.98โฌ40.08
-10.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.40MX$180
$9.19โฌ7.84
13.17%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.6
$2.03โฌ1.73
77.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.45
$2.17โฌ1.85
-32.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.80
$1.40โฌ1.19
-35.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$2.93โฌ2.50
3.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47MX$77.4
$3.37โฌ2.88
32.64%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Danilovgrad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.83
$1.31โฌ1.12
5.34%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.93
$0.98โฌ0.84
87.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.82
$1.85โฌ1.58
-12.97%
Eggs
$2.57MX$44.52
$3.20โฌ2.73
-19.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$8.48โฌ7.24
0.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$7.50โฌ6.40
13.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.99MX$190
$9.80โฌ8.36
12.14%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.25
$1.45โฌ1.24
88.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.92
$1.76โฌ1.50
-14.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.93
$1.67โฌ1.42
17.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.70
$2.49โฌ2.13
-14.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.30
$1.02โฌ0.87
82.35%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.67
$1.10โฌ0.94
97.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.59
$1.87โฌ1.60
-42.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05MX$18.18
$0.82โฌ0.70
28.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.6
$3.98โฌ3.40
5.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.28MX$178
$5.25โฌ4.47
95.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.87
$1.12โฌ0.96
49.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49MX$43.12
$1.87โฌ1.59
33.16%
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Danilovgrad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$1.47โฌ1.25
-63.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.27MX$455
$36.96โฌ31.53
-28.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10MX$53.8
$0.67โฌ0.57
362.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.66
$0.71โฌ0.60
246.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.1
$11.48โฌ9.79
-71.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.83
$1.77โฌ1.51
-28.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$522.8K
$29.5Kโฌ25.1K
2.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.3K
$28.6Kโฌ24.4K
-18.15%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Danilovgrad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0MX$1,456
$114โฌ97.2
-26.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21MX$385
$18.21โฌ15.54
21.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65MX$514
$32.17โฌ27.44
-7.83%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Danilovgrad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.6MX$912
$44.46โฌ37.92
18.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.34MX$318
$14.56โฌ12.42
25.96%
Cinema Ticket
$4.95MX$85.7
$3.40โฌ2.90
45.59%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Danilovgrad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,438
$289โฌ246
-31.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,322MX$92.2K
$7,606โฌ6,488
-30.04%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Danilovgrad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.95MX$623
$22.71โฌ19.38
58.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06MX$694
$39.30โฌ33.52
1.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,365
$96.7โฌ82.5
-18.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,499
$112โฌ95.2
-22.45%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Danilovgrad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$977MX$16.9K
$713โฌ608
36.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$471MX$8,158
$542โฌ463
-13.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595MX$27.6K
$1,272โฌ1,085
25.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,215MX$21.1K
$900โฌ768
34.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,032MX$69.9K
$3,617โฌ3,085
11.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,579MX$114.0K
$2,935โฌ2,504
124.14%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Danilovgrad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$714MX$12.4K
$1,025โฌ874
-30.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
5.38
112.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Last update for Danilovgrad: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $977 in Playa del Carmen and $713 in Danilovgrad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐDanilovgrad pays 44% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $42 in Playa del Carmen vs $47 in Danilovgrad. Groceries flip the comparison at $252 vs $215, with Danilovgrad 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 Danilovgrad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Danilovgrad cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Danilovgrad?
On paper, Danilovgrad earns 44% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Danilovgrad?
Rent for a central apartment: $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $713 in Danilovgrad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or Danilovgrad?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen โ a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $47.00 in Danilovgrad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Danilovgrad?
All in, you'll spend $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,326 in Danilovgrad โ a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Danilovgrad?
At $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,326 in Danilovgrad, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Danilovgrad. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Danilovgrad more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Danilovgrad, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Danilovgrad?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Danilovgrad 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 Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 5% less than in Danilovgrad. 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