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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $977 in David, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,152 in David, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,327 in David, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 29% more than David, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Playa del Carmen and David are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, David 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.99 MX$209

$4.86 PAB 4.86

146.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$728

$35.40 PAB 35.40

18.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.75 MX$187

$6.61 PAB 6.61

62.63%

Cappuccino

$3.50 MX$60.9

$2.67 PAB 2.67

31.09%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 MX$25.22

$1.44 PAB 1.44

0.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 MX$15.41

$1.44 PAB 1.44

-38.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.3

$1.46 PAB 1.46

102.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 MX$78.6

$2.22 PAB 2.22

103.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.94

$1.78 PAB 1.78

-19.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$31.99

$2.13 PAB 2.13

-13.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$27.31

$2.49 PAB 2.49

-36.95%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.74

$2.02 PAB 2.02

24.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.28 MX$144

$5.49 PAB 5.49

50.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$147

$11.07 PAB 11.07

-23.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.68 MX$186

$2.80 PAB 2.80

281.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 MX$45.43

$7.70 PAB 7.70

-66.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MX$25.04

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$34.16

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$36.47

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 MX$32.24

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.74

$2.68 PAB 2.68

-19.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 MX$17.96

$1.34 PAB 1.34

-23.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.70

$2.44 PAB 2.44

-56.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MX$71.4

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 MX$177

$10.04 PAB 10.04

1.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$29.17

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$43.98

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.87

$0.77 PAB 0.77

-33.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.3

$3.03 PAB 3.03

6.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.41 MX$41.88

$1.97 PAB 1.97

22.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$23.00

$1.01 PAB 1.01

30.69%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.7K MX$517.1K

$25.3K PAB 25.3K

17.35%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.7K MX$412.0K

$30.4K PAB 30.4K

-22.13%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.0 MX$1,428

$174 PAB 174

-52.76%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.95 MX$400

$28.40 PAB 28.40

-19.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.11 MX$524

$42.47 PAB 42.47

-29.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$905

$30.64 PAB 30.64

69.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$323

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MX$86.6

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$197 MX$3,438

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$92.9K

$6,087 PAB 6,087

-12.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.60 MX$620

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$702

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,371

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,549

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 MX$16.5K

$352 PAB 352

168.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,254

$348 PAB 348

36.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 MX$28.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 MX$21.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$70.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$112.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 MX$11.4K

$594 PAB 594

10.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

63.14%

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 David: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $352 in David. 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 10% 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 $35.00 in David. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $236 – making David 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 David: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 29%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,466 in David. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in David, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 5% 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen and $35.00 in David. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in David, where all-in costs run around $977, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In David it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward David – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with David. 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.