Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Langley, BC Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Langley, BC

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,262 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,292 in Langley, BC, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,158 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,438 in Langley, BC, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,054 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,584 in Langley, BC, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 45% cheaper than Langley, BC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Langley, BC is 70% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Langley, BC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.61 MX$201
$14.81 CA$20.29
-21.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$742
$58.5 CA$80.2
-26.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.60 MX$184
$9.33 CA$12.78
13.61%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.3
$3.90 CA$5.34
-7.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$25.21
$1.94 CA$2.66
-25.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 MX$15.58
$1.42 CA$1.95
-36.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$52.6
$5.87 CA$8.04
-48.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56 MX$79.2
$7.49 CA$10.25
-39.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Langley, BC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 MX$25.20
$1.80 CA$2.47
-19.44%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 MX$31.72
$1.89 CA$2.59
-3.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.92
$2.71 CA$3.72
-40.59%
Eggs
$2.54 MX$44.05
$3.76 CA$5.15
-32.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.54 MX$148
$11.55 CA$15.82
-26.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.47 MX$147
$10.40 CA$14.25
-18.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 MX$189
$21.48 CA$29.43
-49.44%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 MX$47.37
$3.17 CA$4.35
-13.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 MX$25.91
$1.44 CA$1.97
3.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 MX$33.73
$2.68 CA$3.67
-27.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.57
$3.96 CA$5.42
-45.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 MX$32.05
$2.65 CA$3.63
-30.19%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$38.00
$2.16 CA$2.95
1.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.62
$1.95 CA$2.68
-45.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.81
$1.74 CA$2.39
-37.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06 MX$70.5
$16.36 CA$22.41
-75.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.46 MX$182
$14.26 CA$19.53
-26.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 MX$28.71
$2.52 CA$3.45
-34.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 MX$44.23
$2.35 CA$3.22
8.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Langley, BC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.56 MX$9.65
$1.80 CA$2.46
-68.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.20 MX$455
$78.0 CA$107
-66.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$54.5
$3.01 CA$4.12
4.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.37 MX$41.17
$1.54 CA$2.11
53.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$56.2
$26.07 CA$35.72
-87.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.81
$1.30 CA$1.78
0.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K MX$530.2K
$24.9K CA$34.2K
22.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K MX$413.6K
$21.8K CA$29.9K
9.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Langley, BC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.1 MX$1,443
$116 CA$158
-28.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.15 MX$385
$44.86 CA$61.5
-50.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.37 MX$510
$66.4 CA$91.0
-55.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Langley, BC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.2 MX$889
$32.32 CA$44.28
58.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69 MX$324
$7.47 CA$10.23
150.20%
Cinema Ticket
$4.89 MX$84.9
$11.43 CA$15.66
-57.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Langley, BC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$199 MX$3,449
$936 CA$1,282
-78.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,207 MX$90.4K
$7,961 CA$10.9K
-34.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Langley, BC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93 MX$624
$48.34 CA$66.2
-25.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.39 MX$684
$36.11 CA$49.47
9.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.3 MX$1,394
$83.2 CA$114
-3.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6 MX$1,520
$106 CA$145
-17.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Langley, BC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.7K
$1,460 CA$2,000
-34.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 MX$8,370
$1,236 CA$1,694
-61.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,645 MX$28.6K
$2,283 CA$3,128
-27.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,192 MX$20.7K
$2,155 CA$2,953
-44.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,957 MX$68.7K
$5,903 CA$8,088
-32.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,513 MX$113.1K
$5,355 CA$7,336
21.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Langley, BC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$726 MX$12.6K
$3,120 CA$4,275
-76.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.39
78.72%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026

Last update for Langley, BC: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,460 in Langley, BC. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 330% higher in Langley, BC, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $59 in Langley, BC. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $356 – making Playa del Carmen 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 Langley, BC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Langley, BC cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Langley, BC is pricier by about 82%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,894 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,438 in Langley, BC. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 198% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $199 per month in Playa del Carmen and $936 in Langley, BC. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Langley, BC?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,262, than in Langley, BC at $2,292. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Langley, BC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Langley, BC more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Langley, BC?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Langley, BC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities