😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $950 in Durazno.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,500 in Durazno.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,050 in Durazno.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 36% more expensive than Durazno, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen3% lower, Durazno29% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Durazno
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$205
$12.09UYU 487
-2.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$727
$41.43UYU 1,668
0.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$186
$10.83UYU 436
-1.75%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$61.5
$2.85UYU 115
23.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.37
$1.24UYU 50.1
21.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$17.00
$1.13UYU 45.57
-14.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.5
$2.14UYU 86.0
37.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.8
$2.19UYU 88.1
103.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Durazno
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$24.16
$1.26UYU 50.9
9.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$33.04
$2.91UYU 117
-35.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.59
$1.58UYU 63.7
3.80%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.76
$4.75UYU 191
-47.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$146
$13.47UYU 542
-38.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$146
$10.67UYU 429
-21.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$187
$11.12UYU 447
-3.51%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.48
$3.02UYU 121
-13.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.45
$2.48UYU 99.8
-41.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$33.19
$1.51UYU 61.0
25.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.26
$3.71UYU 149
-43.94%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$31.01
$2.16UYU 86.8
-17.59%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$38.16
$1.89UYU 76.0
15.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$18.16
$1.37UYU 55.2
-24.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.80
$1.73UYU 69.7
-37.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$71.3
$5.16UYU 208
-20.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$180
$10.21UYU 411
1.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.90
$2.27UYU 91.3
-24.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.98
$3.03UYU 122
-14.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Durazno
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.90
$0.76UYU 30.72
-32.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$462
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$57.0
$1.54UYU 62.0
111.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.51
$3.46UYU 139
-28.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.7
$12.47UYU 502
-73.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.83
$1.84UYU 74.0
-28.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$528.8K
$33.8KUYU 1.4M
-10.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$409.2K
$36.2KUYU 1.5M
-35.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Durazno
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,447
$172UYU 6,909
-51.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$388
$16.68UYU 672
33.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$512
$49.92UYU 2,009
-41.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Durazno
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$902
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$320
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$88.5
$6.98UYU 281
-27.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Durazno
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,507
$488UYU 19.6K
-58.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$91.0K
$9,000UYU 362.3K
-42.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Durazno
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$645
$94.1UYU 3,790
-60.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$695
$46.84UYU 1,885
-15.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,370
$112UYU 4,501
-29.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,521
$121UYU 4,879
-28.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Durazno
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$17.0K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,169
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.7K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$113.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Durazno
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
5.68
101.06%
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 Durazno: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $41.00 in Durazno. Groceries flip the comparison at $249 vs $323, with Playa del Carmen cheaper for home cooking.
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 – living expenses run 36% 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 $1,945 in Playa del Carmen and $1,425 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 $201 in Playa del Carmen versus $488 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 – a meal for two runs $41.00 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 $950 in Durazno versus $1,297 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 – similar infrastructure at $950 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 – expenses run 36% 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