😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,330 in Playa del Carmen versus $190 in Inhambane.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,336 in Playa del Carmen versus $314 in Inhambane.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,341 in Playa del Carmen versus $439 in Inhambane.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 601% more expensive than in Inhambane, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen3% lower, Inhambane86% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Inhambane
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.02MX$221
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.25MX$784
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.59MX$213
-
-
Cappuccino
$4.00MX$67.9
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42MX$24.08
-
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81MX$13.73
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.05MX$51.7
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.82MX$116
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Inhambane
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71MX$29.04
$5.38MZN 340
-68.22%
White Bread(500g)
$2.22MX$37.62
-
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.72MX$29.13
$1.04MZN 65.5
65.38%
Eggs
$2.71MX$45.99
$1.85MZN 117
46.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.37MX$159
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.86MX$150
$5.59MZN 354
58.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.78MX$217
$4.76MZN 301
168.49%
Apples(1kg)
$3.13MX$53.0
-
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.55MX$26.24
$3.21MZN 203
-51.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.51
$2.40MZN 152
-10.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.35MX$39.89
$1.52MZN 96.0
54.61%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02MX$34.23
$2.28MZN 144
-11.40%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$33.67
$1.59MZN 101
25.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24MX$21.09
$0.77MZN 48.45
61.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19MX$20.21
$0.65MZN 41.42
83.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.65MX$78.8
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$10.47MX$177
$7.79MZN 493
34.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58MX$26.82
$0.74MZN 47.09
113.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92MX$49.48
$0.93MZN 58.6
213.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Inhambane
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56MX$9.53
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.76MX$504
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.32MX$90.2
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.72MX$63.0
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78MX$97.9
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.27
$1.43MZN 90.5
8.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4KMX$379.1K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6KMX$433.3K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Inhambane
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.3MX$1,513
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.30MX$395
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.72MX$538
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Inhambane
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8MX$1,165
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.40MX$498
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.06MX$85.7
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Inhambane
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$222MX$3,765
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,293MX$72.7K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Inhambane
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.21MX$783
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.43MX$753
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.5MX$1,618
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.5MX$1,568
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Inhambane
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,069MX$18.1K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$393MX$6,663
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,988MX$33.7K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,304MX$22.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,037MX$68.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,627MX$112.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Inhambane
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$747MX$12.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.6
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 18, 2026
Last update for Inhambane: August 18, 2026
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 Inhambane: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Inhambane cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Inhambane is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 601% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,995 in Playa del Carmen and $285 in Inhambane 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.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Inhambane?
Supermarket bills run roughly 49% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Inhambane?
All in, you'll spend $1,330 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $190 in Inhambane – a 601% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Inhambane?
At $190 in Inhambane versus $1,330 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Inhambane but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Inhambane the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Inhambane more family-friendly?
For families, Inhambane is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, 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 Inhambane gentler on the wallet – expenses run 601% 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