😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $935 in Durazno.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,279 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,483 in Durazno.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,292 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,032 in Durazno.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 35% more expensive than in Durazno, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen7% lower, Durazno32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Durazno
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$12.64UYU 508
-8.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$811
$37.68UYU 1,513
25.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$11.27UYU 453
5.41%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.5
$3.06UYU 123
30.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.58
$1.23UYU 49.36
16.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.20
$1.09UYU 43.67
-24.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$54.9
$2.30UYU 92.2
38.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$2.18UYU 87.7
211.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Durazno
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.86
$1.17UYU 47.13
43.59%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.84
$2.79UYU 112
-21.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.42
$1.75UYU 70.1
-2.29%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.21
$4.32UYU 173
-36.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
$12.08UYU 485
-20.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$11.58UYU 465
-22.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
$11.71UYU 470
9.39%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.75
$3.07UYU 123
-5.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.79
$3.31UYU 133
-54.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.00
$2.18UYU 87.6
-1.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.92
$4.11UYU 165
-45.01%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.11
$2.11UYU 84.8
-6.16%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.27
$1.99UYU 79.8
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.26
$1.51UYU 60.8
-18.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.61
$1.95UYU 78.5
-38.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.4
$10.12UYU 407
-55.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
$8.12UYU 326
27.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.88
$3.03UYU 122
-46.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.61
$3.32UYU 133
-13.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Durazno
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.34
$0.73UYU 29.17
-17.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$496
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.8
$3.45UYU 139
56.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.2
$3.38UYU 136
10.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.4
$10.13UYU 407
-43.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.46
$1.88UYU 75.7
-18.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.4K
$36.5KUYU 1.5M
-38.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$448.8K
$40.0KUYU 1.6M
-34.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Durazno
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,574
$113UYU 4,538
-19.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$434
$24.09UYU 967
4.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$538
$47.70UYU 1,916
-34.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Durazno
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,158
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$501
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.8
$6.84UYU 275
-28.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Durazno
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,852
$487UYU 19.6K
-54.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.8K
$6,563UYU 263.6K
-35.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Durazno
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$811
$87.9UYU 3,531
-46.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$763
$37.46UYU 1,504
18.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,380
$164UYU 6,582
-51.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,596
$118UYU 4,743
-21.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Durazno
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,721
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$68.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$112.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Durazno
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
5
129.00%
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 Durazno: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $38.00 in Durazno. Groceries flip the comparison at $276 vs $335, 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 35% 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 and in Durazno?
You'd need roughly $1,899 in Playa del Carmen and $1,403 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 in Durazno?
Childcare runs $224 in Playa del Carmen versus $487 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 and in Durazno?
Dining out is cheaper in Durazno – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $47.00 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 in Durazno?
At $935 in Durazno versus $1,266 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 $935 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 35% 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