😐A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $81.4 in Dhangadhi, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $155 in Dhangadhi, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $229 in Dhangadhi, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 1455% more than Dhangadhi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Dhangadhi are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen7% lower, Dhangadhi94% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Dhangadhi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$1.63NPR 250
611.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$812
$12.95NPR 1,987
263.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$8.12NPR 1,246
46.31%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.6
$0.97NPR 149
310.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.60
$0.44NPR 67.4
225.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.22
$0.27NPR 41.64
203.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$55.0
$2.34NPR 359
36.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
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🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Dhangadhi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.89
$0.52NPR 80.3
223.08%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.88
$0.24NPR 36.89
816.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.45
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Eggs
$2.74MX$47.26
$1.16NPR 178
136.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
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Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
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Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
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Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.81
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Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.81
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Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.03
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Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.96
$1.29NPR 199
75.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.15
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Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.30
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Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.28
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Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.63
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Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.5
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Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
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Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.91
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Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.67
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🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Dhangadhi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.35
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Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$497
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Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.9
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Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.3
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Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.5
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Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.48
$1.15NPR 176
33.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.8K
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Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$449.3K
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🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Dhangadhi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,576
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SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$435
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Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$539
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🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Dhangadhi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,159
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Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$502
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Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.8
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🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Dhangadhi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,856
-
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International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.9K
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👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Dhangadhi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$812
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Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$764
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Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,381
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Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,598
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🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Dhangadhi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
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1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,728
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3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.1K
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3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
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Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$69.0K
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Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$112.1K
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💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Dhangadhi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.1K
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20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
0
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CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Last update for Dhangadhi: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $13.00 in Dhangadhi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $19.00 – making Dhangadhi 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 Dhangadhi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and in Dhangadhi compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, $81.4 in Dhangadhi – roughly 1455% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Dhangadhi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $122 in Dhangadhi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen and $13.00 in Dhangadhi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Dhangadhi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $81.4 in Dhangadhi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Dhangadhi, where all-in costs run around $81.4, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Dhangadhi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Dhangadhi?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $81.4 in Dhangadhi to $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Dhangadhi?
If budget matters most, go with Dhangadhi. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared