😐A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $933 in Linden, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,582 in Linden, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,232 in Linden, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 35% more than Linden, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Linden are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen6% lower, Linden30% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Linden
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$209
$11.75GYD 2,442
2.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$728
$70.9GYD 14.7K
-41.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$187
$8.76GYD 1,822
22.72%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$60.9
$5.01GYD 1,041
-30.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.22
$1.20GYD 249
20.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.41
$0.66GYD 138
33.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.3
$2.01GYD 417
46.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.6
$2.39GYD 496
88.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Linden
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$3.48GYD 723
-58.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.99
$2.05GYD 427
-10.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.31
$1.96GYD 408
-19.90%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.74
$3.99GYD 829
-37.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$144
$13.80GYD 2,869
-40.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$6.07GYD 1,262
38.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$186
$9.37GYD 1,948
13.98%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.43
$9.63GYD 2,002
-72.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.04
$2.55GYD 531
-43.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.16
$3.30GYD 686
-40.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.47
$6.29GYD 1,307
-66.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.24
$2.39GYD 497
-22.59%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.74
$2.87GYD 596
-24.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$17.96
$2.29GYD 476
-55.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.70
$1.47GYD 305
-27.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.4
$2.60GYD 539
57.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$177
$16.78GYD 3,488
-39.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.17
$1.74GYD 362
-3.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.98
$2.55GYD 530
-0.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Linden
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.87
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$453
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.3
$3.19GYD 664
1.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$41.88
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.2
$11.96GYD 2,487
-72.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.00
$1.05GYD 219
25.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$517.1K
$22.4KGYD 4.7M
32.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$412.0K
$17.2KGYD 3.6M
37.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Linden
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,428
$88.3GYD 18.3K
-7.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$400
$27.57GYD 5,731
-16.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$524
$51.9GYD 10.8K
-41.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Linden
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$905
$38.27GYD 7,957
35.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$323
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$86.6
$6.68GYD 1,388
-25.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Linden
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,438
$1,010GYD 210.0K
-80.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$92.9K
$23.5KGYD 4.9M
-77.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Linden
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$620
$34.01GYD 7,071
4.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
$51.9GYD 10.8K
-22.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,371
$129GYD 26.8K
-39.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,549
$75.4GYD 15.7K
17.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Linden
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.5K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,254
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$70.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$112.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Linden
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
7.5
52.27%
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 Linden: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $71.0 in Linden. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $374 – 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 Linden: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Linden?
Playa del Carmen costs about 35% more than Linden, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen and in Linden?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,399 in Linden. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Linden?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $933 in Linden. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Linden?
Kindergarten costs $197 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,010 in Linden. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or in Linden?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Linden, where all-in costs run around $933, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Linden it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Linden?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Linden costs $933 versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or to Linden?
If budget matters most, go with Linden. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared