🙂A single person spends $1,262 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,055 in Greenock, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,158 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,647 in Greenock, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,054 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,239 in Greenock, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 39% cheaper than Greenock, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Greenock is 53% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Greenock
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.61MX$201
$13.86£10.27
-16.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$742
$68.7£50.9
-37.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.60MX$184
$8.19£6.07
29.43%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.3
$3.32£2.46
8.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.21
$1.99£1.47
-27.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90MX$15.58
$1.34£0.99
-32.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$5.39£3.99
-43.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56MX$79.2
$6.81£5.05
-33.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Greenock
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.45MX$25.20
$1.74£1.29
-16.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83MX$31.72
$2.07£1.54
-11.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.92
$2.94£2.18
-45.24%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.05
$3.26£2.42
-22.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.54MX$148
$9.67£7.16
-11.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.47MX$147
$10.50£7.78
-19.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$189
$13.34£9.88
-18.59%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.37
$3.24£2.40
-15.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.91
$1.92£1.42
-22.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94MX$33.73
$3.31£2.45
-41.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.57
$4.01£2.97
-46.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.05
$1.79£1.32
3.35%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$38.00
$1.40£1.04
56.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.62
$1.44£1.07
-25.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.81
$1.47£1.09
-26.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06MX$70.5
$20.02£14.83
-79.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.46MX$182
$11.27£8.35
-7.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65MX$28.71
$2.70£2.00
-38.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55MX$44.23
$3.75£2.78
-32.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Greenock
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56MX$9.65
$3.46£2.56
-83.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.20MX$455
$104£77.2
-74.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$54.5
$5.37£3.98
-41.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.37MX$41.17
$1.36£1.01
74.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.2
$27.51£20.38
-88.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.81
$1.90£1.41
-31.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5KMX$530.2K
$38.3K£28.4K
-20.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$413.6K
$42.2K£31.3K
-43.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Greenock
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.1MX$1,443
$147£109
-43.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.15MX$385
$18.02£13.35
22.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.37MX$510
$42.78£31.70
-31.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Greenock
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.2MX$889
$26.63£19.73
92.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69MX$324
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.89MX$84.9
$13.37£9.91
-63.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Greenock
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$199MX$3,449
$1,495£1,108
-86.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,207MX$90.4K
$8,623£6,390
-39.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Greenock
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93MX$624
$86.2£63.9
-58.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.39MX$684
$47.82£35.44
-17.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.3MX$1,394
$108£79.9
-25.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6MX$1,520
$85.1£63.1
2.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Greenock
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.7K
$620£460
55.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482MX$8,370
$1,000£741
-51.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,645MX$28.6K
$875£648
88.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,192MX$20.7K
$804£596
48.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,957MX$68.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,513MX$113.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Greenock
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$726MX$12.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
5.62
103.20%
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 Greenock: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $620 in Greenock. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $69 in Greenock. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $321 – 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 Greenock: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Greenock?
Greenock costs about 63% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen vs Greenock?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,894 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,082 in Greenock. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Greenock?
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.
How expensive is transport in Playa del Carmen vs Greenock?
Public transport costs about 298% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and Greenock?
Kindergarten costs $199 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,495 in Greenock. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or Greenock?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,262, than in Greenock at $2,055. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Greenock it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Greenock?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,262 versus $2,055 in Greenock. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or Greenock?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Greenock makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared