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 $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $165 in Derna, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,126 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $339 in Derna, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,980 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $513 in Derna, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 672% more than Derna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Derna are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Derna 88% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.87 MX$204

$4.56 LYD 29.01

160.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.90 MX$736

$8.93 LYD 56.8

380.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.65 MX$183

$3.74 LYD 23.77

184.76%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.57 LYD 3.62

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 LYD 4.50

Cappuccino

$3.45 MX$59.2

$0.53 LYD 3.38

550.94%

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

$1.50 MX$25.81

$0.39 LYD 2.46

284.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 MX$16.28

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 MX$51.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 MX$79.1

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.61

$0.70 LYD 4.48

97.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.85 MX$31.70

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 MX$27.65

Eggs

$2.59 MX$44.51

$0.75 LYD 4.77

245.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 MX$142

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.37 MX$144

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.66 MX$183

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 MX$45.12

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 MX$25.53

$0.93 LYD 5.92

60.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 MX$32.94

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$35.81

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$31.88

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.81

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 MX$18.23

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.67

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.15 MX$71.2

Wine (Bottle)

$10.39 MX$178

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 MX$29.59

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$44.85

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.30

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.94 MX$462

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$53.7

$0.94 LYD 6.01

232.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.51 MX$43.09

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 MX$54.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 MX$21.88

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

$30.4K MX$521.3K

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

$23.6K MX$404.5K

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

$83.0 MX$1,425

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

$22.71 MX$390

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.46 MX$506

$16.62 LYD 106

77.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.0 MX$875

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.33 MX$315

Cinema Ticket

$4.93 MX$84.5

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

$197 MX$3,386

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,280 MX$90.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.90 MX$633

$37.08 LYD 236

-0.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.89 MX$685

$46.42 LYD 295

-14.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.0 MX$1,373

$46.61 LYD 296

71.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.5 MX$1,536

$46.62 LYD 296

91.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$956 MX$16.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$477 MX$8,189

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,646 MX$28.3K

$180 LYD 1,144

814.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,225 MX$21.0K

$111 LYD 707

1001.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,918 MX$67.2K

$195 LYD 1,240

1908.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,459 MX$110.9K

$77.6 LYD 494

8220.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$667 MX$11.4K

$173 LYD 1,098

286.46%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Derna: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 286% 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: $250 vs $16.00 – 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 672% 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 $1,906 per month in Playa del Carmen and $247 in Derna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,271 in Playa del Carmen and $165 in Derna. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 1499% 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 $165, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. 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 $165 versus $1,271 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.