😐A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $810 in Itapevi, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,302 in Itapevi, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,793 in Itapevi, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 59% more than Itapevi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Itapevi are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen4% lower, Itapevi39% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Itapevi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$6.21R$30.99
92.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$33.09R$165
29.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$7.13R$35.58
48.53%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$1.86R$9.27
94.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$1.32R$6.59
11.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$0.92R$4.57
2.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$1.84R$9.18
67.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$3.41R$17.00
30.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Itapevi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.09R$5.42
31.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$1.56R$7.77
20.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$1.26R$6.29
29.37%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$2.29R$11.44
15.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$8.22R$41.03
-0.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$3.71R$18.53
123.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$8.86R$44.20
25.28%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$2.28R$11.39
16.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$1.73R$8.62
-13.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$1.46R$7.30
36.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$1.53R$7.61
35.95%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$1.27R$6.31
40.94%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$1.13R$5.65
92.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$0.74R$3.68
45.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.65R$3.25
60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$2.63R$13.12
50.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$9.38R$46.83
8.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$1.31R$6.55
32.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$3.50R$17.44
-28.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Itapevi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$0.92R$4.58
-43.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
$37.80R$189
-28.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$0.92R$4.58
241.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$1.07R$5.34
124.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$8.80R$43.90
-64.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$1.01R$5.05
25.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$22.6KR$112.8K
36.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$29.1KR$145.1K
-19.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Itapevi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$47.11R$235
74.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$15.01R$74.9
49.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$18.79R$93.8
57.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Itapevi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$22.54R$112
130.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
$22.03R$110
-15.25%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$5.54R$27.63
-10.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Itapevi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$318R$1,585
-37.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$6,836R$34.1K
-22.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Itapevi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$56.6R$283
-35.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$51.8R$259
-22.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$84.6R$422
-5.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$72.2R$360
23.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Itapevi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$314R$1,568
206.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$218R$1,089
112.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$584R$2,912
173.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$437R$2,183
176.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$1,678R$8,373
134.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
$1,218R$6,076
429.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Itapevi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
10.92
4.58%
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 Itapevi: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $314 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $33.00 in Itapevi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $195 – 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 59% 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 vs Itapevi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,215 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 vs Itapevi?
Public transport costs about 40% 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 Itapevi?
Kindergarten costs $198 per month in Playa del Carmen and $318 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 Itapevi?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Itapevi, where all-in costs run around $810, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. 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 $810 versus $1,287 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 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