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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,518 in Grimsby.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,499 in Grimsby.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,481 in Grimsby.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 48% less than in Grimsby, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 3% below, Grimsby is 88% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Grimsby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$18.18 CA$25.26
-35.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$721
$77.7 CA$108
-46.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
$11.13 CA$15.47
-4.40%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$61.0
$3.60 CA$5.00
-2.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.17
$2.02 CA$2.81
-25.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.87
$1.54 CA$2.14
-37.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.1
$6.04 CA$8.40
-51.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.2
$6.76 CA$9.40
-34.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Grimsby
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.97
$3.03 CA$4.20
-54.46%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.78
$2.90 CA$4.03
-34.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.37
$4.30 CA$5.98
-61.86%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.42
$3.40 CA$4.73
-26.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$145
$13.48 CA$18.73
-38.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$145
$9.64 CA$13.40
-13.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$186
$11.30 CA$15.70
-5.04%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.12
$2.89 CA$4.02
-10.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.25
$2.06 CA$2.86
-29.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.94
$3.58 CA$4.98
-46.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.98
$3.55 CA$4.93
-41.41%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.77
$1.87 CA$2.60
-4.81%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.87
$2.88 CA$4.00
-23.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$18.02
$1.67 CA$2.33
-37.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.66
$2.15 CA$2.99
-49.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.7
$13.92 CA$19.35
-70.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$179
$12.61 CA$17.52
-18.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.67
$2.20 CA$3.06
-22.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.63
$2.22 CA$3.08
16.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Grimsby
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.83
$2.39 CA$3.32
-78.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$459
$61.8 CA$85.9
-57.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.5
$3.19 CA$4.43
2.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.17
$1.26 CA$1.75
97.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.3
$21.75 CA$30.22
-85.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.65
$1.15 CA$1.60
13.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$524.7K
$25.0K CA$34.7K
21.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$406.0K
$21.2K CA$29.5K
10.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Grimsby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,436
$159 CA$220
-47.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$385
$53.1 CA$73.7
-58.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$508
$70.7 CA$98.2
-58.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Grimsby
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$895
$42.03 CA$58.4
22.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.8
$8.76 CA$12.17
-42.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Grimsby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,480
$727 CA$1,009
-72.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.3K
$18.3K CA$25.4K
-71.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Grimsby
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$640
$72.9 CA$101
-49.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$689
$39.83 CA$55.3
-0.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,360
$114 CA$159
-31.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,509
$111 CA$155
-21.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Grimsby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.9K
$1,339 CA$1,860
-27.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,105
$1,314 CA$1,826
-64.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
$1,892 CA$2,629
-13.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.2K
$1,824 CA$2,534
-33.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Grimsby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
$4,395 CA$6,107
-84.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.4
78.44%

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 Grimsby: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $1,339 in Grimsby. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Grimsby pays 562% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $78.0 in Grimsby for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $356 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 Grimsby: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and Grimsby?
Playa del Carmen and Grimsby differ by about 94% in total monthly costs ($1,297 vs $2,518 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Grimsby earns 562% 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 Grimsby?
Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,339 in Grimsby. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $78.0 in Grimsby. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Grimsby?
All in, you'll spend $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,518 in Grimsby – a 94% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,518 in Grimsby, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Grimsby. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Grimsby?
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.
Where should expats move: Playa del Carmen or Grimsby?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 94% less than in Grimsby. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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