😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,227 in Las Muesas.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,933 in Las Muesas.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,638 in Las Muesas.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 6% more expensive than Las Muesas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen3% lower, Las Muesas8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Las Muesas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$12.18$12.18
-3.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$721
$82.1$82.1
-49.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$9.51$9.51
11.88%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$61.0
$3.53$3.53
-0.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.17
$1.70$1.70
-11.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.87
$1.37$1.37
-29.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.1
$2.97$2.97
-0.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.2
$4.60$4.60
-3.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Las Muesas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.97
$2.38$2.38
-42.02%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.78
$2.61$2.61
-27.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.37
$2.25$2.25
-27.11%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.42
$6.17$6.17
-59.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$145
$8.87$8.87
-5.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$145
$8.55$8.55
-2.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$186
$12.56$12.56
-14.57%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.12
$5.96$5.96
-56.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.25
$2.71$2.71
-46.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.94
$3.96$3.96
-52.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.98
$3.97$3.97
-47.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.77
$3.87$3.87
-54.01%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.87
$2.58$2.58
-15.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$18.02
$1.44$1.44
-27.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.66
$1.97$1.97
-45.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.7
$12.11$12.11
-66.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$179
$15.57$15.57
-33.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.67
$2.46$2.46
-30.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.63
$3.23$3.23
-20.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Las Muesas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.83
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$459
$60.8$60.8
-56.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.5
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.17
$1.53$1.53
62.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.3
$14.90$14.90
-78.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.65
$0.95$0.95
37.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$524.7K
$36.6K$36.6K
-17.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.0K
$26.5K$26.5K
-11.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Las Muesas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,436
$222$222
-62.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$385
$78.3$78.3
-71.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$508
$72.3$72.3
-59.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Las Muesas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$895
$37.14$37.14
39.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.8
$11.82$11.82
-57.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Las Muesas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,480
$371$371
-45.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.3K
$10.4K$10.4K
-49.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Las Muesas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$640
$46.06$46.06
-19.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$689
$56.6$56.6
-29.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,360
$80.3$80.3
-2.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,509
$104$104
-16.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Las Muesas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.9K
$817$817
19.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,105
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$1,827$1,827
-10.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Las Muesas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
5.71
100.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Last update for Las Muesas: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $817 in Las Muesas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $82.0 in Las Muesas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $368 per month, with Playa del Carmen 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 Las Muesas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Las Muesas cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Las Muesas is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,945 in Playa del Carmen and $1,841 in Las Muesas to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Las Muesas?
Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $817 in Las Muesas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or Las Muesas?
Dining out is cheaper in Las Muesas – a meal for two runs $82.0 versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Las Muesas?
All in, you'll spend $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,227 in Las Muesas – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Las Muesas?
At $1,227 in Las Muesas versus $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Las Muesas but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Las Muesas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Las Muesas more family-friendly?
For families, Las Muesas is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Las Muesas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% 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