Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Labrador City

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,361 in Labrador City, rent and utilities included – about $13,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Labrador City
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,361
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Labrador City

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Labrador City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,361 in Labrador City.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Labrador City $2,361

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,102 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,438 in Labrador City.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,102
  • Labrador City $3,438

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,000 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,514 in Labrador City.

  • Playa del Carmen $3,000
  • Labrador City $4,514

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 49% less than in Labrador City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 11% below, Labrador City is 74% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Labrador City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.86 MX$201
$29.93 CA$42.31
-63.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.21 MX$817
$68.8 CA$97.2
-35.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.76 MX$217
$12.75 CA$18.02
-7.76%
Cappuccino
$3.68 MX$68.0
$3.50 CA$4.95
5.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 MX$24.79
$4.12 CA$5.83
-67.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MX$15.24
$2.16 CA$3.05
-62.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.06 MX$56.6
$5.37 CA$7.59
-43.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.94 MX$91.2
$5.64 CA$7.97
-12.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Labrador City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 MX$27.17
$2.07 CA$2.93
-28.99%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$40.95
$2.41 CA$3.41
-7.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.48 MX$27.32
$3.23 CA$4.56
-54.18%
Eggs
$2.49 MX$45.99
$2.86 CA$4.05
-12.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.52 MX$139
$9.73 CA$13.76
-22.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.96 MX$147
$11.22 CA$15.86
-29.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.57 MX$232
$14.41 CA$20.37
-12.77%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$51.3
$3.68 CA$5.20
-24.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 MX$26.37
$1.29 CA$1.82
10.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.62 MX$48.37
$3.74 CA$5.28
-29.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.14 MX$39.49
$3.80 CA$5.37
-43.68%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$37.38
$2.44 CA$3.45
-17.21%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$36.74
$2.20 CA$3.11
-9.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 MX$21.01
$2.45 CA$3.46
-53.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$22.18
$1.62 CA$2.28
-25.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 MX$78.7
$14.02 CA$19.82
-69.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.02 MX$185
$12.78 CA$18.06
-21.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 MX$28.41
$2.57 CA$3.63
-40.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 MX$49.17
$3.08 CA$4.36
-13.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Labrador City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.53 MX$9.73
$2.25 CA$3.18
-76.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.51 MX$508
$62.0 CA$87.7
-55.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.90 MX$90.6
$2.92 CA$4.13
67.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.43 MX$63.5
$1.48 CA$2.09
131.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.38 MX$99.4
$22.79 CA$32.22
-76.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 MX$26.76
$1.18 CA$1.67
22.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$391.0K
$28.2K CA$39.8K
-24.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0K MX$425.3K
$19.0K CA$26.9K
21.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Labrador City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.4 MX$1,577
$133 CA$187
-35.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.46 MX$434
$38.45 CA$54.4
-38.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.43 MX$525
$91.7 CA$130
-69.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Labrador City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.2 MX$1,149
$40.01 CA$56.6
55.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.68 MX$530
$18.16 CA$25.68
57.93%
Cinema Ticket
$5.10 MX$94.3
$11.21 CA$15.84
-54.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Labrador City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,715
$736 CA$1,041
-72.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,947 MX$72.9K
$13.0K CA$18.4K
-69.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Labrador City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.39 MX$820
$52.4 CA$74.1
-15.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.35 MX$764
$37.89 CA$53.6
9.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.7 MX$1,344
$84.2 CA$119
-13.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.6 MX$1,656
$103 CA$145
-12.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Labrador City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$979 MX$18.1K
$1,235 CA$1,746
-20.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$373 MX$6,887
$1,104 CA$1,561
-66.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,681 MX$31.1K
$1,968 CA$2,782
-14.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,095 MX$20.2K
$1,710 CA$2,417
-35.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,949 MX$73.0K
$4,188 CA$5,920
-5.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,137 MX$113.4K
$3,561 CA$5,034
72.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Labrador City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$738 MX$13.6K
$3,269 CA$4,622
-77.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
6.39
79.19%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 17, 2026

Last update for Labrador City: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$373
Labrador City
$1.1K 196% $731
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$258
Labrador City
$343 32.8% $85
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$200
Labrador City
$383 91.3% $183
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Labrador City
$263 91.4% $126
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Labrador City
$125 11.8% $13
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$72
Labrador City
$62 13.8% $10
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$52
Labrador City
$81 57.4% $30

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $979 in Playa del Carmen and $1,235 in Labrador City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Labrador City pays 343% 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: $44.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $69.0 in Labrador City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $258 vs $343 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇨🇦 Labrador City
🕒 Local time
21:31 9:31 PM
23:31 11:31 PM
2 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
7,400
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Labrador City 3,990 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Labrador City

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Labrador City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Labrador City cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 96% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Labrador City?
On paper, salaries run 343% lower in Labrador City. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Labrador City?
Rent for a central apartment: $979 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,235 in Labrador City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or in Labrador City?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $69.0 in Labrador City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Labrador City?
All in, you'll spend $1,204 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,361 in Labrador City – a 96% 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 Labrador City?
At $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,361 in Labrador City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Labrador City. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Labrador City more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Labrador City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Labrador City?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Labrador City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 96% less than in Labrador City. 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

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