๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $760 in Jaguariรบna.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,218 in Jaguariรบna.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,675 in Jaguariรบna.
๐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 71% more expensive than Jaguariรบna, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen3% lower, Jaguariรบna43% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Jaguariรบna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$205
$5.45R$28.08
115.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$727
$27.40R$141
51.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$186
$6.32R$32.58
68.35%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$61.5
$1.78R$9.18
97.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.37
$1.12R$5.75
34.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$17.00
$0.63R$3.22
53.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.5
$1.76R$9.05
67.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.8
$2.76R$14.23
61.23%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Jaguariรบna
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$24.16
$0.95R$4.88
45.26%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$33.04
$1.45R$7.48
30.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.59
$1.18R$6.08
38.98%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.76
$1.94R$9.99
29.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$146
$8.13R$41.86
2.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$146
$3.69R$19.02
126.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$187
$7.36R$37.90
45.79%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.48
$2.07R$10.69
25.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.45
$1.49R$7.66
-2.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$33.19
$1.19R$6.15
59.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.26
$1.47R$7.55
41.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$31.01
$1.20R$6.18
48.33%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$38.16
$1.11R$5.70
97.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$18.16
$0.73R$3.77
42.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.80
$0.67R$3.44
61.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$71.3
$2.15R$11.06
89.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$180
$7.85R$40.45
31.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.90
$1.27R$6.56
34.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.98
$1.99R$10.25
29.65%
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Jaguariรบna
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.90
$0.89R$4.57
-42.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$462
$38.99R$201
-32.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$57.0
$1.07R$5.49
204.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.51
$0.70R$3.62
255.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.7
$6.45R$33.21
-49.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.83
$1.08R$5.59
21.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$528.8K
$20.4KR$105.3K
48.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$409.2K
$28.0KR$144.2K
-16.28%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Jaguariรบna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,447
$60.5R$312
37.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$388
$13.39R$69.0
65.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$512
$15.21R$78.4
92.90%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Jaguariรบna
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$902
$22.28R$115
131.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$320
$22.01R$113
-16.77%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$88.5
$6.19R$31.89
-18.09%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Jaguariรบna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,507
$270R$1,392
-25.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$91.0K
$6,473R$33.3K
-19.48%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Jaguariรบna
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$645
$48.61R$250
-24.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$695
$41.49R$214
-4.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,370
$76.7R$395
2.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,521
$65.1R$335
33.80%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Jaguariรบna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$17.0K
$320R$1,646
204.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,169
$214R$1,104
118.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.7K
$573R$2,951
186.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.3K
$431R$2,221
183.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.9K
$1,619R$8,340
143.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$113.5K
$1,171R$6,032
454.91%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Jaguariรบna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.6K
$983R$5,066
-32.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
10.92
4.58%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Last update for Jaguariรบna: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $320 in Jaguariรบna. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐJaguariรบna pays 48% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
๐Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $27.00 in Jaguariรบna for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $176 per month, with Jaguariรบna 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 Jaguariรบna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Jaguariรบna?
Jaguariรบna wins on cost โ living expenses run 71% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Jaguariรบna the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or Jaguariรบna?
On paper, Jaguariรบna earns 48% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen vs Jaguariรบna?
Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $320 in Jaguariรบna. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Jaguariรบna?
All in, you'll spend $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $760 in Jaguariรบna โ a 71% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Playa del Carmen vs Jaguariรบna?
A monthly transit pass in Jaguariรบna runs roughly 47% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or Jaguariรบna?
At $760 in Jaguariรบna versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Jaguariรบna but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Jaguariรบna the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Jaguariรบna?
Both work as nomad bases, but Jaguariรบna delivers better value โ similar infrastructure at $760 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Jaguariรบna hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Jaguariรบna gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 71% 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