Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Limeira Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Limeira

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $777 in Limeira.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,125 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,154 in Limeira.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,990 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,530 in Limeira.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 62% more expensive than in Limeira, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Limeira 42% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Limeira
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72 MX$203
$4.63 R$23.49
153.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89 MX$725
$14.15 R$71.8
196.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 MX$182
$5.80 R$29.45
81.21%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.0
$1.14 R$5.79
214.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.10
$0.80 R$4.08
88.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 MX$15.83
$0.74 R$3.74
24.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.96 MX$51.2
$1.24 R$6.28
138.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41 MX$76.3
$1.85 R$9.40
138.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Limeira
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 MX$24.16
$0.97 R$4.92
44.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.60
$1.41 R$7.15
33.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 MX$26.97
$0.94 R$4.78
65.96%
Eggs
$2.61 MX$45.14
$1.73 R$8.77
50.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.32 MX$144
$8.43 R$42.79
-1.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.35 MX$145
$4.26 R$21.62
96.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 MX$188
$6.16 R$31.28
76.30%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 MX$46.93
$1.68 R$8.54
61.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$26.04
$1.26 R$6.38
19.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.41
$1.52 R$7.73
23.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.89
$1.54 R$7.82
42.21%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$32.14
$1.26 R$6.38
47.62%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 MX$38.59
$1.24 R$6.28
79.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.48
$0.80 R$4.06
33.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.79
$0.50 R$2.52
118.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MX$72.4
$2.11 R$10.73
98.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.43 MX$180
$7.82 R$39.66
33.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 MX$28.68
$1.36 R$6.91
22.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$45.19
$1.88 R$9.52
38.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Limeira
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.37
$1.00 R$5.06
-46.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.16 MX$453
$41.30 R$210
-36.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 MX$53.3
$1.22 R$6.21
152.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$41.61
$0.35 R$1.78
585.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$54.1
$6.55 R$33.24
-52.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.69
$1.04 R$5.28
25.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K MX$515.7K
$20.8K R$105.6K
43.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$403.5K
$27.0K R$137.0K
-13.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Limeira
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 MX$1,406
$86.3 R$438
-5.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56 MX$390
$11.75 R$59.6
92.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05 MX$520
$14.53 R$73.7
106.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Limeira
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.9 MX$915
$17.34 R$88.0
205.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 MX$318
$8.17 R$41.44
125.09%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92 MX$85.1
$6.37 R$32.34
-22.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Limeira
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,474
$178 R$903
12.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,175 MX$89.5K
$8,111 R$41.2K
-36.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Limeira
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92 MX$622
$46.58 R$236
-22.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13 MX$694
$39.46 R$200
1.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.7 MX$1,379
$80.1 R$407
-0.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5 MX$1,496
$42.00 R$213
105.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Limeira
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$978 MX$16.9K
$301 R$1,529
224.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 MX$8,140
$227 R$1,151
107.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,651 MX$28.6K
$576 R$2,922
186.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,203 MX$20.8K
$434 R$2,205
177.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,953 MX$68.4K
$1,382 R$7,013
186.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,607 MX$114.3K
$1,161 R$5,891
469.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Limeira
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$677 MX$11.7K
$529 R$2,686
27.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
10
14.20%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Last update for Limeira: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $978 in Playa del Carmen and $301 in Limeira. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 28% 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: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $14.00 in Limeira for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $171 per month, with Limeira 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 Limeira: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and in Limeira?
Playa del Carmen and Limeira differ by about 62% in total monthly costs ($1,260 vs $777 including rent). Limeira is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Playa del Carmen or Limeira?
Average pay runs 28% higher in Playa del Carmen, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Limeira?
Rent for a central apartment: $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $301 in Limeira. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 47% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Limeira – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $777 in Limeira versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Limeira but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Limeira the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Limeira?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Playa del Carmen or Limeira?
Expats usually find Limeira gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% 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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