🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,407 in Elliot Lake, ON.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,498 in Elliot Lake, ON.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,589 in Elliot Lake, ON.
🙂Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 46% less than in Elliot Lake, ON, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 3% below, Elliot Lake, ON is 80% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Elliot Lake, ON
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$16.84CA$23.42
-30.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$719
$58.7CA$81.6
-29.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$9.50CA$13.22
12.00%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$60.8
$3.58CA$4.97
-1.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.09
$2.17CA$3.01
-30.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.82
$1.79CA$2.48
-45.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.0
$5.42CA$7.54
-45.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.0
$6.61CA$9.20
-32.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Elliot Lake, ON
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.90
$2.01CA$2.80
-31.34%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.69
$2.05CA$2.86
-7.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.29
$4.91CA$6.83
-66.60%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.30
$3.68CA$5.12
-31.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$12.86CA$17.89
-35.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$15.81CA$21.98
-47.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$185
$13.19CA$18.34
-18.65%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.00
$5.45CA$7.57
-52.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.18
$1.93CA$2.69
-24.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.84
$3.81CA$5.30
-50.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.88
$4.66CA$6.48
-55.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.68
$4.53CA$6.30
-60.71%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.76
$3.18CA$4.43
-31.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$17.97
$2.08CA$2.89
-50.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.60
$2.87CA$3.99
-62.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.5
$14.87CA$20.68
-72.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$178
$12.50CA$17.38
-17.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.59
$3.27CA$4.54
-47.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.50
$2.12CA$2.95
21.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Elliot Lake, ON
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.81
$2.35CA$3.27
-78.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$457
$63.1CA$87.7
-58.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.4
$3.39CA$4.72
-3.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.05
$1.48CA$2.06
68.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.1
$35.39CA$49.22
-90.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.59
$1.07CA$1.49
22.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$523.2K
$25.3KCA$35.2K
19.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$404.9K
$20.7KCA$28.8K
13.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Elliot Lake, ON
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,432
$106CA$147
-21.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$384
$49.25CA$68.5
-54.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$507
$78.1CA$109
-62.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Elliot Lake, ON
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$892
$41.79CA$58.1
23.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.5
$11.18CA$15.55
-54.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Elliot Lake, ON
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,470
$727CA$1,011
-72.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.1K
$8,881CA$12.4K
-41.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Elliot Lake, ON
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$638
$62.9CA$87.5
-41.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$688
$39.46CA$54.9
0.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,356
$103CA$143
-23.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,505
$164CA$228
-46.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Elliot Lake, ON
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.8K
$1,299CA$1,806
-25.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,082
$1,161CA$1,615
-59.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$2,025CA$2,816
-18.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.1K
$1,785CA$2,482
-31.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.2K
$4,846CA$6,740
-18.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.3K
$3,893CA$5,415
66.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Elliot Lake, ON
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
6.59
73.29%
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 Elliot Lake, ON: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $1,299 in Elliot Lake, ON. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $59.0 in Elliot Lake, ON for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $418 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
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 Elliot Lake, ON: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Elliot Lake, ON cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 86% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,945 in Playa del Carmen and $3,611 in Elliot Lake, ON 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.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Elliot Lake, ON?
Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,299 in Elliot Lake, ON. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Elliot Lake, ON?
All in, you'll spend $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,407 in Elliot Lake, ON – a 86% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 138% less than in Elliot Lake, ON. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Elliot Lake, ON?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,407 in Elliot Lake, ON, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Elliot Lake, ON. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Elliot Lake, ON more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Elliot Lake, ON, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 86% less than in Elliot Lake, ON. 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