Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Las Muesas Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Las Muesas

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,220 in Las Muesas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,137 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,923 in Las Muesas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,017 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,626 in Las Muesas.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 3% more expensive than in Las Muesas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Las Muesas 9% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Las Muesas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$210
$12.11 $12.11
-0.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78 MX$733
$80.3 $80.3
-47.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.75 MX$189
$9.83 $9.83
9.36%
Cappuccino
$3.50 MX$61.3
$3.69 $3.69
-5.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$25.41
$1.69 $1.69
-14.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 MX$15.52
$1.37 $1.37
-35.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.7
$2.96 $2.96
-0.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51 MX$79.1
$4.62 $4.62
-2.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Las Muesas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$25.12
$2.39 $2.39
-40.17%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 MX$32.23
$2.50 $2.50
-26.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$27.51
$2.25 $2.25
-30.22%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$44.06
$5.92 $5.92
-57.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.28 MX$145
$8.93 $8.93
-7.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.43 MX$148
$8.35 $8.35
0.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.68 MX$187
$12.60 $12.60
-15.24%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 MX$45.76
$5.74 $5.74
-54.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MX$25.22
$2.71 $2.71
-46.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 MX$34.41
$3.83 $3.83
-48.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$36.74
$4.13 $4.13
-49.39%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 MX$32.47
$3.90 $3.90
-52.56%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 MX$38.02
$2.64 $2.64
-17.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 MX$18.09
$1.45 $1.45
-28.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$18.84
$1.96 $1.96
-45.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10 MX$72.0
$11.95 $11.95
-65.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.17 MX$178
$15.75 $15.75
-35.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$29.38
$2.44 $2.44
-31.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 MX$44.31
$3.22 $3.22
-21.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Las Muesas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.93
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.04 MX$457
$60.5 $60.5
-56.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.7
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.41 MX$42.19
$1.54 $1.54
56.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.6
$15.21 $15.21
-78.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 MX$23.17
$0.99 $0.99
33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K MX$520.9K
$36.3K $36.3K
-18.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K MX$415.0K
$26.3K $26.3K
-10.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Las Muesas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,439
$219 $219
-62.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95 MX$403
$80.5 $80.5
-71.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11 MX$528
$73.1 $73.1
-58.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Las Muesas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 MX$912
$36.90 $36.90
40.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53 MX$325
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.98 MX$87.3
$11.76 $11.76
-57.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Las Muesas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,463
$379 $379
-47.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,336 MX$93.6K
$10.4K $10.4K
-48.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Las Muesas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60 MX$624
$45.26 $45.26
-21.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33 MX$707
$56.7 $56.7
-28.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.8 MX$1,381
$81.4 $81.4
-3.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,560
$105 $105
-15.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Las Muesas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$947 MX$16.6K
$816 $816
15.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,314
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,644 MX$28.8K
$1,776 $1,776
-7.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,211 MX$21.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,056 MX$71.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,470 MX$113.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Las Muesas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 MX$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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Las Muesas: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $947 in Playa del Carmen and $816 in Las Muesas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $80.0 in Las Muesas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $365 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 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,884 in Playa del Carmen and $1,829 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: $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $816 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 in Las Muesas?
Dining out is cheaper in Las Muesas – a meal for two runs $80.0 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 and in Las Muesas?
All in, you'll spend $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,220 in Las Muesas – a 3% 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 Las Muesas?
At $1,220 in Las Muesas versus $1,256 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 3% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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