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 $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $997 in David, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,168 in David, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,338 in David, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 30% more than David, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Playa del Carmen and David are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, David 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$5.04 PAB 5.04

132.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$721

$36.52 PAB 36.52

13.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

$6.81 PAB 6.81

56.24%

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$61.0

$2.66 PAB 2.66

32.33%

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

$1.51 MX$26.17

$1.41 PAB 1.41

7.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.87

$1.38 PAB 1.38

-29.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.1

$1.46 PAB 1.46

102.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.2

$2.20 PAB 2.20

102.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.97

$1.80 PAB 1.80

-23.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.78

$2.14 PAB 2.14

-11.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.37

$2.48 PAB 2.48

-33.87%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.42

$2.04 PAB 2.04

23.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$145

$5.41 PAB 5.41

54.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$145

$11.11 PAB 11.11

-24.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

$2.87 PAB 2.87

273.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.12

$7.94 PAB 7.94

-67.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.25

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.94

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.98

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.77

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.87

$2.65 PAB 2.65

-17.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$18.02

$1.35 PAB 1.35

-22.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.66

$2.52 PAB 2.52

-57.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.7

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$179

$9.81 PAB 9.81

5.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.67

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.63

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.83

$0.78 PAB 0.78

-34.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$459

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.5

$3.02 PAB 3.02

7.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.17

$1.94 PAB 1.94

28.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.65

$1.01 PAB 1.01

29.70%

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

$30.3K MX$524.7K

$24.8K PAB 24.8K

22.25%

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

$23.4K MX$406.0K

$30.6K PAB 30.6K

-23.35%

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

$82.9 MX$1,436

$174 PAB 174

-52.26%

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

$22.22 MX$385

$27.59 PAB 27.59

-19.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$508

$42.92 PAB 42.92

-31.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$895

$30.56 PAB 30.56

68.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.8

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

$201 MX$3,480

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.3K

$5,892 PAB 5,892

-11.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$640

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$689

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,360

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,509

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.9K

$346 PAB 346

181.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,105

$351 PAB 351

33.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

$591 PAB 591

12.33%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for David: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $346 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 12% 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 $37.00 in David. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $238 – 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 30%, 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 $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,495 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 $37.00 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 $997, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. 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.