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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,262 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,186 in Edmonton, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,158 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,279 in Edmonton, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,054 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,372 in Edmonton, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 42% cheaper than Edmonton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Edmonton is 62% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Edmonton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.61 MX$201
$18.53 CA$25.39
-37.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$742
$65.9 CA$90.3
-35.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.60 MX$184
$11.16 CA$15.29
-5.02%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.3
$3.83 CA$5.24
-6.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$25.21
$2.10 CA$2.87
-30.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 MX$15.58
$1.81 CA$2.47
-50.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$52.6
$5.87 CA$8.04
-48.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56 MX$79.2
$6.04 CA$8.27
-24.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Edmonton
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 MX$25.20
$2.04 CA$2.79
-28.92%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 MX$31.72
$2.78 CA$3.80
-34.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.92
$3.18 CA$4.35
-49.37%
Eggs
$2.54 MX$44.05
$3.68 CA$5.05
-30.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.54 MX$148
$12.41 CA$17.00
-31.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.47 MX$147
$12.34 CA$16.91
-31.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 MX$189
$16.17 CA$22.16
-32.84%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 MX$47.37
$4.80 CA$6.57
-43.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 MX$25.91
$1.37 CA$1.88
8.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 MX$33.73
$3.83 CA$5.25
-49.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.57
$3.74 CA$5.13
-42.25%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 MX$32.05
$2.44 CA$3.35
-24.18%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$38.00
$2.14 CA$2.94
2.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.62
$2.73 CA$3.74
-60.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.81
$1.93 CA$2.64
-44.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06 MX$70.5
$15.00 CA$20.54
-72.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.46 MX$182
$12.93 CA$17.72
-19.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 MX$28.71
$3.06 CA$4.19
-46.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 MX$44.23
$3.23 CA$4.42
-21.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Edmonton
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.56 MX$9.65
$2.60 CA$3.56
-78.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.20 MX$455
$73.7 CA$101
-64.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$54.5
$3.23 CA$4.42
-2.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.37 MX$41.17
$1.65 CA$2.26
43.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$56.2
$23.59 CA$32.31
-86.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.81
$1.06 CA$1.45
23.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K MX$530.2K
$25.7K CA$35.1K
19.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K MX$413.6K
$22.2K CA$30.5K
7.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Edmonton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.1 MX$1,443
$205 CA$281
-59.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.15 MX$385
$44.92 CA$61.6
-50.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.37 MX$510
$64.6 CA$88.5
-54.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Edmonton
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.2 MX$889
$48.36 CA$66.3
5.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69 MX$324
$21.87 CA$29.97
-14.54%
Cinema Ticket
$4.89 MX$84.9
$13.06 CA$17.89
-62.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Edmonton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$199 MX$3,449
$709 CA$971
-71.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,207 MX$90.4K
$11.9K CA$16.3K
-56.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Edmonton
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93 MX$624
$49.75 CA$68.2
-27.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.39 MX$684
$41.81 CA$57.3
-5.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.3 MX$1,394
$83.9 CA$115
-4.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6 MX$1,520
$102 CA$139
-13.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Edmonton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.7K
$1,212 CA$1,660
-20.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 MX$8,370
$953 CA$1,305
-49.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,645 MX$28.6K
$1,892 CA$2,591
-13.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,192 MX$20.7K
$1,615 CA$2,213
-26.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,957 MX$68.7K
$2,295 CA$3,144
72.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,513 MX$113.1K
$2,229 CA$3,054
192.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Edmonton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$726 MX$12.6K
$3,086 CA$4,227
-76.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.08
87.83%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026

Last update for Edmonton: April 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,212 in Edmonton. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 325% higher in Edmonton, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $66 in Edmonton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $383 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Edmonton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and Edmonton compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,262 in Playa del Carmen, $2,186 in Edmonton – roughly 73% apart. Edmonton costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Edmonton?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,894 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,279 in Edmonton. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Playa del Carmen and Edmonton?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Edmonton?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,262 in Playa del Carmen and $2,186 in Edmonton. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Playa del Carmen and Edmonton?
Public transport costs about 181% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,262, than in Edmonton at $2,186. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Edmonton it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Edmonton?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,262 in Playa del Carmen to $2,186 in Edmonton. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Edmonton?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Edmonton makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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