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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $780 in Dura, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,302 in Dura, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,824 in Dura, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 66% more than Dura, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Playa del Carmen and Dura are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Dura 42% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Dura
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$13.96 ₪39.76
-15.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$720
$56.7 ₪161
-26.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
$11.18 ₪31.83
-4.83%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$60.9
$1.94 ₪5.52
81.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.12
$0.74 ₪2.10
104.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.84
$0.56 ₪1.61
73.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.0
$5.64 ₪16.07
-47.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.0
$5.66 ₪16.10
-21.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Dura
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.93
$2.21 ₪6.30
-37.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.72
$1.10 ₪3.14
71.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.32
$2.51 ₪7.15
-34.66%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.34
$4.04 ₪11.50
-37.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$7.63 ₪21.72
9.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$8.85 ₪25.20
-5.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$186
$17.64 ₪50.2
-39.17%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.04
$2.64 ₪7.51
-1.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.20
$1.91 ₪5.45
-23.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.87
$1.98 ₪5.64
-4.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.91
$2.02 ₪5.76
2.97%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.71
$1.10 ₪3.13
61.82%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.80
$1.40 ₪3.99
56.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$17.99
$1.43 ₪4.07
-27.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.62
$0.80 ₪2.28
35.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.6
$8.04 ₪22.89
-49.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$178
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.61
$2.79 ₪7.94
-38.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.54
$2.50 ₪7.11
3.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Dura
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.81
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$458
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.4
$2.81 ₪8.00
16.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.09
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.2
$14.21 ₪40.45
-77.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.61
$2.12 ₪6.03
-38.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$523.7K
$39.2K ₪111.6K
-22.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$405.3K
$46.6K ₪132.7K
-49.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Dura
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,433
$84.3 ₪240
-1.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$384
$18.85 ₪53.7
17.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$507
$45.87 ₪131
-36.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Dura
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$893
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.6
$8.95 ₪25.49
-43.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Dura
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,473
$218 ₪621
-7.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.1K
$3,817 ₪10.9K
36.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Dura
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$639
$62.6 ₪178
-40.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$688
$37.65 ₪107
5.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,357
$94.7 ₪270
-17.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,506
$73.4 ₪209
18.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Dura
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.8K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,090
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Dura
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
5.62
103.20%

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 Dura: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $57.0 in Dura. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $263 – making Playa del Carmen 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 Dura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and Dura compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, $780 in Dura – roughly 66% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Dura?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,170 in Dura. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Dura?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $780 in Dura. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Playa del Carmen and Dura?
Kindergarten costs $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $218 in Dura. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Dura, where all-in costs run around $780, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Dura 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 Dura?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $780 in Dura to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Dura?
If budget matters most, go with Dura. 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.

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