😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Playa del Carmen versus $577 in Juiz de Fora.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,130 in Playa del Carmen versus $932 in Juiz de Fora.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,999 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,288 in Juiz de Fora.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 119% more expensive than Juiz de Fora, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen6% lower, Juiz de Fora57% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Juiz de Fora
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.67MX$203
$3.63R$18.03
221.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.88MX$728
$17.94R$89.0
133.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.40MX$181
$4.55R$22.56
128.57%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.9
$1.63R$8.09
121.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.54
$0.92R$4.58
59.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.86
$0.62R$3.05
46.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.8
$0.86R$4.27
252.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47MX$77.7
$1.78R$8.81
151.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Juiz de Fora
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.91
$0.77R$3.84
79.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$32.04
$1.38R$6.84
33.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.91
$1.56R$7.71
3.21%
Eggs
$2.57MX$44.67
$1.69R$8.38
52.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.49MX$148
$7.10R$35.23
19.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.49MX$148
$3.13R$15.52
171.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.99MX$191
$7.41R$36.73
48.31%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.42
$1.82R$9.02
50.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.01
$1.18R$5.85
27.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.05
$1.09R$5.43
79.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.83
$1.33R$6.59
59.40%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.41
$1.03R$5.10
80.58%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.80
$0.65R$3.20
233.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.65
$0.49R$2.45
118.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05MX$18.24
$0.66R$3.27
59.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.9
$1.07R$5.29
291.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.28MX$179
$6.06R$30.08
69.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.97
$0.78R$3.86
114.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49MX$43.27
$1.00R$4.94
149.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Juiz de Fora
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.41
$0.65R$3.23
-16.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.27MX$457
$30.30R$150
-13.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10MX$54.0
$0.99R$4.89
213.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.81
$0.67R$3.32
267.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.3
$5.68R$28.18
-42.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.91
$1.05R$5.23
20.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$524.6K
$18.1KR$89.7K
66.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$407.7K
$26.8KR$133.0K
-12.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Juiz de Fora
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0MX$1,461
$58.6R$291
43.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21MX$386
$6.73R$33.39
230.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65MX$516
$15.97R$79.2
85.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Juiz de Fora
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.6MX$915
$17.26R$85.6
204.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.34MX$319
$25.54R$127
-28.19%
Cinema Ticket
$4.95MX$86.0
$4.60R$22.82
7.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Juiz de Fora
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,449
$69.0R$342
187.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,322MX$92.5K
$2,385R$11.8K
123.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Juiz de Fora
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.95MX$625
$34.75R$172
3.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06MX$697
$36.80R$183
8.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,370
$54.0R$268
45.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,504
$30.10R$149
187.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Juiz de Fora
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$977MX$17.0K
$196R$972
398.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$471MX$8,186
$133R$657
255.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595MX$27.7K
$454R$2,251
251.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,215MX$21.1K
$322R$1,599
276.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,032MX$70.1K
$984R$4,882
309.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,579MX$114.4K
$614R$3,044
971.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Juiz de Fora
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$714MX$12.4K
$468R$2,321
52.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
10.83
5.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Last update for Juiz de Fora: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $977 in Playa del Carmen and $196 in Juiz de Fora. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 53% 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 in Playa del Carmen vs $18 in Juiz de Fora for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $153 per month, with Juiz de Fora 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 Juiz de Fora: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Juiz de Fora?
Juiz de Fora wins on cost – living expenses run 119% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Juiz de Fora the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or Juiz de Fora?
Playa del Carmen pays 53% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen vs Juiz de Fora?
Rent for a central apartment: $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $196 in Juiz de Fora. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen vs Juiz de Fora?
Dining out is cheaper in Juiz de Fora – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Juiz de Fora?
All in, you'll spend $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $577 in Juiz de Fora – a 119% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or Juiz de Fora?
At $577 in Juiz de Fora versus $1,261 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Juiz de Fora but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Juiz de Fora the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Juiz de Fora?
Both work as nomad bases, but Juiz de Fora delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $577 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Juiz de Fora hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Juiz de Fora gentler on the wallet – expenses run 119% 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