😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,073 in Esenyurt.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,681 in Esenyurt.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,289 in Esenyurt.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 20% more expensive than Esenyurt, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen4% lower, Esenyurt20% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Esenyurt
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$9.44₺426
26.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$30.68₺1,385
39.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$7.42₺335
42.72%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$2.83₺128
27.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$1.13₺51.0
30.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$0.42₺19.14
123.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$2.21₺99.9
39.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$2.27₺102
96.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Esenyurt
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$0.96₺43.22
48.96%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$0.80₺36.26
135.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$1.95₺88.2
-16.41%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$1.96₺88.6
34.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$9.15₺413
-10.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$5.64₺255
46.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$18.42₺832
-39.74%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$1.42₺64.0
86.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$2.19₺98.7
-31.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$1.32₺59.7
50.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$1.55₺69.9
34.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$0.76₺34.29
135.53%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$0.46₺20.74
373.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$0.90₺40.54
20.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.28₺12.49
271.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$2.19₺98.7
81.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$12.29₺555
-17.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$1.98₺89.2
-12.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$2.07₺93.6
20.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Esenyurt
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$0.63₺28.52
-17.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
$30.19₺1,363
-10.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$0.96₺43.13
227.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$0.59₺26.82
306.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$8.98₺405
-65.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$1.21₺54.5
4.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$41.8K₺1.9M
-26.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$42.9K₺1.9M
-45.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Esenyurt
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$57.9₺2,612
41.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$9.79₺442
129.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$11.93₺539
148.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Esenyurt
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$43.20₺1,950
20.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$7.82₺353
-36.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Esenyurt
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$364₺16.4K
-45.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$17.9K₺806.7K
-70.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Esenyurt
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$57.2₺2,582
-36.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$44.47₺2,007
-9.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$103₺4,628
-22.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$80.2₺3,618
10.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Esenyurt
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$514₺23.2K
87.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$399₺18.0K
16.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$874₺39.5K
82.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$704₺31.8K
71.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$1,340₺60.5K
194.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
$946₺42.7K
581.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Esenyurt
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$1,045₺47.2K
-31.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
42.62
-73.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Last update for Esenyurt: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $514 in Esenyurt. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Esenyurt pays 45% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $31.00 in Esenyurt for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $226 per month, with Esenyurt 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 Esenyurt: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and Esenyurt?
Playa del Carmen and Esenyurt differ by about 20% in total monthly costs ($1,287 vs $1,073 including rent). Esenyurt is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Esenyurt earns 45% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Esenyurt?
Rent for a central apartment: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $514 in Esenyurt. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Playa del Carmen and Esenyurt?
Childcare runs $198 in Playa del Carmen versus $364 in Esenyurt. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,073 in Esenyurt versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Esenyurt but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Esenyurt the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Esenyurt?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Playa del Carmen or Esenyurt safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Esenyurt are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Playa del Carmen or Esenyurt?
Expats usually find Esenyurt gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% 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