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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,184 in Ebina.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,855 in Ebina.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,526 in Ebina.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 9% more expensive than Ebina, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Ebina 12% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ebina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$6.76 ¥1,082
73.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$721
$33.98 ¥5,436
22.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
$4.97 ¥795
114.08%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$61.0
$3.07 ¥491
14.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.17
$1.01 ¥162
49.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.87
$0.75 ¥119
29.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.1
$2.12 ¥339
39.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.2
$3.09 ¥495
44.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ebina
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.97
$1.40 ¥224
-1.43%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.78
$1.07 ¥171
76.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.37
$4.09 ¥653
-59.90%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.42
$1.55 ¥247
61.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$145
$16.99 ¥2,717
-50.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$145
$3.53 ¥565
136.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$186
$15.53 ¥2,484
-30.91%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.12
$5.52 ¥884
-52.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.25
$1.37 ¥219
6.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.94
$4.28 ¥684
-55.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.98
$2.83 ¥453
-26.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.77
$2.71 ¥433
-34.32%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.87
$2.60 ¥415
-15.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$18.02
$1.38 ¥222
-24.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.66
$1.39 ¥222
-22.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.7
$3.38 ¥541
20.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$179
$9.55 ¥1,527
8.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.67
$2.04 ¥326
-16.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.63
$2.29 ¥366
12.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ebina
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.83
$1.61 ¥258
-68.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$459
$56.2 ¥8,990
-52.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.5
$3.41 ¥546
-4.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.17
$3.01 ¥482
-17.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.3
$17.66 ¥2,825
-81.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.65
$1.23 ¥197
6.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$524.7K
$23.4K ¥3.7M
29.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$406.0K
$17.0K ¥2.7M
38.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ebina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,436
$142 ¥22.7K
-41.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$385
$27.14 ¥4,342
-18.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$508
$33.53 ¥5,363
-12.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ebina
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$895
$55.3 ¥8,851
-6.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
$13.89 ¥2,222
31.89%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.8
$12.31 ¥1,969
-58.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ebina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,480
$309 ¥49.4K
-35.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.3K
$11.3K ¥1.8M
-54.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ebina
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$640
$34.73 ¥5,555
6.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$689
$31.81 ¥5,088
25.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,360
$55.6 ¥8,895
41.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,509
$69.9 ¥11.2K
24.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ebina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.9K
$465 ¥74.4K
109.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,105
$332 ¥53.2K
40.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
$876 ¥140.2K
87.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.2K
$665 ¥106.4K
83.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.4K
$4,589 ¥734.1K
-14.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.6K
$2,695 ¥431.1K
141.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ebina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
$1,863 ¥298.0K
-64.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
1.78
541.57%

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 Ebina: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $465 in Ebina. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ebina pays 181% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $34.00 in Ebina. Groceries flip the comparison at $249 vs $299, 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. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Ebina?
On paper, Ebina earns 181% less. 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: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $465 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 Ebina?
Shoppers in Playa del Carmen pay roughly 20% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or Ebina?
Dining out is cheaper in Ebina – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $42.00 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 Playa del Carmen or Ebina?
At $1,184 in Ebina versus $1,297 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 9% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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