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 $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,194 in Edmonton, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,321 in Edmonton, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,448 in Edmonton, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 41% cheaper than Edmonton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 3% below the global median, while Edmonton is 64% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Edmonton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$18.25 CA$25.38
-35.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$719
$65.5 CA$91.0
-36.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
$11.45 CA$15.93
-7.07%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$60.8
$3.87 CA$5.38
-9.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.09
$2.08 CA$2.89
-27.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.82
$1.76 CA$2.44
-44.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.0
$5.93 CA$8.24
-50.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.0
$5.85 CA$8.13
-23.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Edmonton
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.90
$2.07 CA$2.88
-33.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.69
$2.91 CA$4.05
-35.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.29
$3.18 CA$4.42
-48.43%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.30
$3.76 CA$5.23
-33.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$12.48 CA$17.36
-33.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$12.38 CA$17.22
-32.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$185
$16.32 CA$22.70
-34.25%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.00
$4.83 CA$6.72
-46.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.18
$1.32 CA$1.83
10.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.84
$3.85 CA$5.35
-50.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.88
$3.75 CA$5.22
-44.53%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.68
$2.34 CA$3.26
-23.93%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.76
$2.11 CA$2.94
3.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$17.97
$2.61 CA$3.62
-60.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.60
$1.92 CA$2.66
-43.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.5
$14.87 CA$20.67
-72.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$178
$12.48 CA$17.36
-17.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.59
$3.07 CA$4.27
-44.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.50
$3.27 CA$4.55
-21.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Edmonton
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.81
$2.57 CA$3.57
-80.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$457
$72.2 CA$100
-63.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.4
$3.21 CA$4.46
1.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.05
$1.64 CA$2.27
51.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.1
$23.35 CA$32.47
-86.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.59
$1.10 CA$1.53
19.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$523.2K
$25.6K CA$35.6K
18.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$404.9K
$22.0K CA$30.6K
6.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Edmonton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,432
$199 CA$277
-58.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$384
$44.00 CA$61.2
-49.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$507
$64.0 CA$89.1
-54.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Edmonton
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$892
$47.62 CA$66.2
8.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
$21.62 CA$30.07
-15.26%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.5
$13.06 CA$18.16
-61.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Edmonton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,470
$683 CA$950
-70.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.1K
$11.9K CA$16.5K
-56.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Edmonton
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$638
$48.94 CA$68.1
-24.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$688
$42.19 CA$58.7
-5.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,356
$83.7 CA$116
-6.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,505
$104 CA$145
-16.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Edmonton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.8K
$1,212 CA$1,685
-19.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,082
$935 CA$1,300
-49.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
$1,878 CA$2,611
-12.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.1K
$1,611 CA$2,241
-24.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.2K
$2,397 CA$3,334
64.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.3K
$2,275 CA$3,164
185.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Edmonton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
$3,486 CA$4,848
-80.95%
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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Edmonton: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 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 425% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $65.0 in Edmonton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $384 – 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: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, $2,194 in Edmonton – roughly 69% 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 $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,291 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 $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $2,194 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 173% 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 $1,297, than in Edmonton at $2,194. 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 $1,297 in Playa del Carmen to $2,194 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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