😐A single person spends $1,330 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $888 in Itapevi, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,336 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,468 in Itapevi, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,341 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,048 in Itapevi, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 50% more than Itapevi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Itapevi are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen3% lower, Itapevi35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Itapevi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.02MX$221
$6.63R$34.43
96.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.25MX$784
$37.68R$196
22.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.59MX$213
$8.82R$45.78
42.74%
Cappuccino
$4.00MX$67.9
$2.22R$11.54
80.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42MX$24.08
$1.65R$8.57
-13.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81MX$13.73
$1.23R$6.40
-34.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.05MX$51.7
$2.91R$15.13
4.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.82MX$116
$4.57R$23.73
49.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Itapevi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71MX$29.04
$1.15R$5.96
48.70%
White Bread(500g)
$2.22MX$37.62
$1.96R$10.20
13.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.72MX$29.13
$1.12R$5.80
53.57%
Eggs
$2.71MX$45.99
$2.56R$13.31
5.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.37MX$159
$8.70R$45.18
7.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.86MX$150
$4.31R$22.40
105.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.78MX$217
$10.36R$53.8
23.36%
Apples(1kg)
$3.13MX$53.0
$2.72R$14.14
15.07%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55MX$26.24
$1.73R$8.99
-10.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.51
$1.74R$9.02
23.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.35MX$39.89
$1.81R$9.41
29.83%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02MX$34.23
$1.37R$7.11
47.45%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$33.67
$1.36R$7.06
46.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24MX$21.09
$0.88R$4.54
40.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19MX$20.21
$0.71R$3.70
67.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.65MX$78.8
$2.66R$13.80
74.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.47MX$177
$8.55R$44.39
22.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58MX$26.82
$1.67R$8.66
-5.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92MX$49.48
$4.30R$22.31
-32.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Itapevi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56MX$9.53
$0.88R$4.56
-36.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.76MX$504
$39.09R$203
-23.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.32MX$90.2
$1.29R$6.71
312.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.72MX$63.0
$1.31R$6.81
183.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78MX$97.9
$9.17R$47.62
-36.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.27
$1.25R$6.50
24.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4KMX$379.1K
$22.6KR$117.5K
-1.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6KMX$433.3K
$32.1KR$166.9K
-20.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Itapevi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.3MX$1,513
$44.39R$231
101.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.30MX$395
$14.78R$76.8
57.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.72MX$538
$17.73R$92.1
78.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Itapevi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8MX$1,165
$27.07R$141
154.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.40MX$498
$27.56R$143
6.68%
Cinema Ticket
$5.06MX$85.7
$7.48R$38.85
-32.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Itapevi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$222MX$3,765
$412R$2,138
-46.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,293MX$72.7K
$7,499R$38.9K
-42.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Itapevi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.21MX$783
$53.2R$276
-13.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.43MX$753
$55.6R$289
-20.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.5MX$1,618
$94.1R$489
1.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.5MX$1,568
$81.8R$425
13.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Itapevi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,069MX$18.1K
$347R$1,800
208.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$393MX$6,663
$233R$1,208
68.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,988MX$33.7K
$564R$2,931
252.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,304MX$22.1K
$389R$2,019
235.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,037MX$68.4K
$1,602R$8,318
152.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,627MX$112.3K
$1,120R$5,814
491.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Itapevi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$747MX$12.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.6
11.12
4.32%
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 Itapevi: August 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $347 in Itapevi. 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 $46.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $38.00 in Itapevi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $217 – making Itapevi 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 Itapevi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Itapevi?
Playa del Carmen costs about 50% more than Itapevi, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 and in Itapevi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,995 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,331 in Itapevi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Itapevi?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Itapevi, 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 compared to Itapevi?
Public transport costs about 31% less in Itapevi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Itapevi?
Kindergarten costs $222 per month in Playa del Carmen and $412 in Itapevi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or in Itapevi?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Itapevi, where all-in costs run around $888, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,330. In Itapevi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Itapevi?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Itapevi costs $888 versus $1,330 in Playa del Carmen. 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 to Itapevi?
If budget matters most, go with Itapevi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared