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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $170 in Derna, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $333 in Derna, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $497 in Derna, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 659% more than Derna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Derna are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 4% lower, Derna 87% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.94 MX$209

$4.52 LYD 28.67

164.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.75 MX$748

$9.32 LYD 59.1

358.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.59 MX$185

$3.59 LYD 22.74

194.99%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.53 LYD 3.34

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 LYD 4.81

Cappuccino

$3.62 MX$63.4

$0.56 LYD 3.58

546.43%

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

$1.47 MX$25.69

$0.36 LYD 2.27

308.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 MX$16.51

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 MX$54.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 MX$78.0

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.94

$0.69 LYD 4.40

107.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.97

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 MX$28.50

Eggs

$2.64 MX$46.26

$0.74 LYD 4.71

256.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.21 MX$144

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$145

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.10 MX$194

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 MX$46.40

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$26.26

$0.89 LYD 5.66

68.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.79

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.33

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 MX$31.29

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$38.09

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MX$18.84

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 MX$18.15

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.97 MX$69.5

Wine (Bottle)

$10.20 MX$179

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.22

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 MX$43.71

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 MX$9.07

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.97 MX$472

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 MX$55.0

$0.95 LYD 6.04

230.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$42.04

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 MX$54.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 MX$22.28

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

$30.9K MX$540.4K

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

$23.3K MX$408.0K

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

$82.0 MX$1,435

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

$22.45 MX$393

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.66 MX$519

$16.21 LYD 103

82.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 MX$908

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$327

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 MX$87.0

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

$198 MX$3,462

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,273 MX$92.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.34 MX$636

$36.47 LYD 231

-0.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.05 MX$701

$46.49 LYD 295

-13.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 MX$1,398

$46.18 LYD 293

72.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,555

$46.55 LYD 295

90.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$963 MX$16.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MX$8,133

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,596 MX$27.9K

$182 LYD 1,151

779.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 MX$21.2K

$111 LYD 703

989.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,942 MX$69.0K

$200 LYD 1,269

1870.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,448 MX$112.8K

$79.4 LYD 503

8023.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$720 MX$12.6K

$172 LYD 1,088

319.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Last update for Derna: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 320% 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $9.00 in Derna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $15.00 – making Derna 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 Derna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen costs about 659% more than Derna, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $254 in Derna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $170 in Derna. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 1542% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Derna, where all-in costs run around $170, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Derna it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Derna costs $170 versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Derna. 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.