๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $970 in Durazno.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,130 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,519 in Durazno.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,999 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,067 in Durazno.
๐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 30% more expensive than Durazno, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen6% lower, Durazno28% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Durazno
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.67MX$202
$12.28UYUย 489
-4.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.88MX$726
$41.54UYUย 1,653
0.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.40MX$180
$11.09UYUย 441
-6.22%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.6
$2.91UYUย 116
24.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.45
$1.21UYUย 48.12
21.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.80
$1.07UYUย 42.67
-14.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$2.26UYUย 90.0
34.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47MX$77.4
$2.26UYUย 90.0
97.79%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Durazno
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.83
$1.22UYUย 48.43
13.11%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.93
$2.86UYUย 114
-35.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.82
$1.59UYUย 63.4
1.26%
Eggs
$2.57MX$44.52
$4.79UYUย 191
-46.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$13.67UYUย 544
-37.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$10.80UYUย 430
-21.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.99MX$190
$10.85UYUย 432
1.29%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.25
$3.08UYUย 123
-11.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.92
$2.46UYUย 97.9
-39.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.93
$1.57UYUย 62.5
24.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.70
$3.67UYUย 146
-42.23%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.30
$2.06UYUย 82.0
-9.71%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.67
$1.86UYUย 74.1
16.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.59
$1.33UYUย 52.8
-19.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05MX$18.18
$1.67UYUย 66.3
-37.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.6
$5.00UYUย 199
-16.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.28MX$178
$9.91UYUย 394
3.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.87
$2.37UYUย 94.2
-29.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49MX$43.12
$2.95UYUย 117
-15.59%
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Durazno
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$0.71UYUย 28.34
-23.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.27MX$455
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10MX$53.8
$1.62UYUย 64.5
91.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.66
$3.61UYUย 144
-31.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.1
$12.14UYUย 483
-73.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.83
$1.84UYUย 73.1
-31.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$522.8K
$34.2KUYUย 1.4M
-11.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.3K
$36.3KUYUย 1.4M
-35.44%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Durazno
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0MX$1,456
$174UYUย 6,934
-51.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21MX$385
$16.87UYUย 671
31.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65MX$514
$49.93UYUย 1,987
-40.62%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Durazno
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.6MX$912
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.34MX$318
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.95MX$85.7
$6.74UYUย 268
-26.56%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Durazno
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,438
$479UYUย 19.1K
-58.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,322MX$92.2K
$8,769UYUย 348.9K
-39.31%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Durazno
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.95MX$623
$95.3UYUย 3,793
-62.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06MX$694
$47.45UYUย 1,888
-15.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,365
$114UYUย 4,544
-31.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,499
$125UYUย 4,985
-30.95%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Durazno
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$977MX$16.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$471MX$8,158
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595MX$27.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,215MX$21.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,032MX$69.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,579MX$114.0K
-
-
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Durazno
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$714MX$12.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
5.68
101.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Last update for Durazno: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $977 in Playa del Carmen and $0 in Durazno. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $42 in Playa del Carmen vs $42 in Durazno for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $321 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
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 Durazno: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Durazno?
Durazno wins on cost โ living expenses run 30% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Durazno the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen vs Durazno?
You'd need roughly $1,891 in Playa del Carmen and $1,455 in Durazno to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and Durazno?
Childcare runs $198 in Playa del Carmen versus $479 in Durazno. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen vs Durazno?
Dining out is cheaper in Durazno โ a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or Durazno?
At $970 in Durazno versus $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Durazno but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Durazno the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Durazno?
Both work as nomad bases, but Durazno delivers better value โ similar infrastructure at $970 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Durazno hard to pass up.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Durazno?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Durazno are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Durazno gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 30% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared