😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,173 in Ebina.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,279 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,868 in Ebina.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,292 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,563 in Ebina.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 8% more expensive than in Ebina, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen7% lower, Ebina14% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ebina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$199
$6.32¥987
83.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$809
$32.21¥5,031
46.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$204
$4.56¥712
160.53%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.2
$2.51¥392
58.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.49
$1.00¥157
43.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.16
$0.82¥127
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$54.7
$1.97¥307
61.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$3.18¥497
113.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ebina
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.76
$1.31¥205
28.24%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.71
$0.98¥153
124.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.32
$3.94¥616
-56.60%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.05
$1.50¥234
82.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$164
$16.45¥2,569
-41.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$3.17¥495
184.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$220
$17.47¥2,728
-26.67%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.58
$5.30¥828
-45.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.70
$1.33¥207
12.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.87
$3.79¥592
-43.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.79
$2.66¥415
-15.04%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.00
$2.58¥403
-23.26%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.15
$3.26¥509
-38.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.18
$1.16¥181
6.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.54
$0.95¥148
26.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.1
$3.82¥597
19.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$178
$9.63¥1,504
7.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.79
$1.92¥299
-15.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.44
$2.23¥348
29.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ebina
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.30
$1.49¥233
-59.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$494
$57.8¥9,030
-50.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.5
$3.26¥510
65.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.0
$2.88¥449
29.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.0
$16.33¥2,550
-64.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.37
$1.12¥175
37.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$387.0K
$22.3K¥3.5M
1.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$447.3K
$15.8K¥2.5M
65.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ebina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,569
$120¥18.7K
-23.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$433
$24.38¥3,807
3.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$536
$31.78¥4,964
-1.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ebina
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,154
$52.5¥8,199
28.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$500
$19.36¥3,023
50.36%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.5
$11.44¥1,787
-57.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ebina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,839
$286¥44.7K
-21.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.6K
$15.2K¥2.4M
-72.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ebina
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$808
$32.65¥5,099
44.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$760
$32.69¥5,105
35.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,375
$63.4¥9,905
26.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,591
$63.7¥9,946
45.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ebina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.2K
$507¥79.2K
109.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,698
$336¥52.5K
16.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$36.9K
$1,046¥163.4K
105.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.8K
$756¥118.1K
68.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$68.7K
$4,063¥634.5K
-1.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$111.6K
$1,752¥273.6K
271.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ebina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.0K
$1,929¥301.3K
-60.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
1.66
589.76%
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 Ebina: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen and $507 in Ebina. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ebina pays 154% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $32.00 in Ebina. Groceries flip the comparison at $276 vs $289, 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 Ebina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ebina cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Ebina is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Ebina?
On paper, salaries run 154% lower in Ebina. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Ebina?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $507 in Ebina. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Ebina?
Shoppers in Playa del Carmen pay roughly 5% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or in Ebina?
Dining out is cheaper in Ebina – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Ebina?
At $1,173 in Ebina versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ebina but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Ebina the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Ebina more family-friendly?
For families, Ebina is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Ebina?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Ebina 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Ebina gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% 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