😐A single person spends $1,305 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,036 in Linden, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,755 in Linden, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,362 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,474 in Linden, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 26% more than Linden, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Linden are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Linden25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Linden
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.96MX$203
$18.19GYD 3,784
-34.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.38MX$804
$72.9GYD 15.2K
-35.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.75MX$199
$9.57GYD 1,991
22.78%
Cappuccino
$4.12MX$70.0
$5.95GYD 1,238
-30.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$23.74
$1.28GYD 266
9.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.48
$0.61GYD 128
49.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21MX$54.4
$1.88GYD 392
70.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07MX$120
$3.32GYD 690
112.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Linden
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.44
$3.24GYD 673
-48.15%
White Bread(500g)
$2.15MX$36.48
$2.05GYD 426
4.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$30.10
$2.06GYD 428
-14.08%
Eggs
$2.82MX$47.76
$4.17GYD 867
-32.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.20MX$156
$15.40GYD 3,202
-40.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.23MX$157
$7.08GYD 1,473
30.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.64MX$214
$9.22GYD 1,917
37.09%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$50.1
$7.85GYD 1,633
-62.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58MX$26.79
$4.03GYD 838
-60.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22MX$37.70
$4.06GYD 844
-45.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.09
$7.00GYD 1,457
-66.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99MX$33.81
$2.35GYD 488
-15.32%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98MX$33.58
$3.04GYD 632
-34.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24MX$21.04
$3.04GYD 632
-59.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21MX$20.55
$1.60GYD 333
-24.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.60MX$78.1
$3.38GYD 704
36.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.52MX$178
$16.99GYD 3,533
-38.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69MX$28.70
$1.78GYD 370
-5.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77MX$47.06
$2.57GYD 534
7.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Linden
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.22
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.70MX$504
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.24MX$88.8
$4.21GYD 875
24.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.65MX$61.9
$2.33GYD 485
56.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78MX$98.1
$11.75GYD 2,445
-50.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.09
$1.02GYD 212
50.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$386.8K
$27.8KGYD 5.8M
-17.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KMX$437.9K
$23.3KGYD 4.8M
10.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Linden
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$90.7MX$1,538
$120GYD 25.0K
-24.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.19MX$427
$21.24GYD 4,417
18.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.75MX$539
$43.99GYD 9,150
-27.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Linden
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8MX$1,167
$38.82GYD 8,075
77.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.37MX$498
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$82.5
$6.17GYD 1,283
-21.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Linden
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$226MX$3,828
$1,014GYD 211.0K
-77.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,194MX$71.1K
$18.9KGYD 3.9M
-77.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Linden
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.38MX$804
$38.17GYD 7,939
24.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.45MX$737
$41.85GYD 8,705
3.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.2MX$1,361
$133GYD 27.7K
-39.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4MX$1,550
$86.4GYD 18.0K
5.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Linden
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,086MX$18.4K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$409MX$6,933
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,972MX$33.5K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,281MX$21.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,046MX$68.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,704MX$113.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Linden
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$773MX$13.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
6.94
64.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026
Last update for Linden: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $73.0 in Linden. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $278 vs $394 – 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 26% 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 $1,958 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,554 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 $1,305 in Playa del Carmen and $1,036 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 $226 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,014 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 $1,036, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. 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 $1,036 versus $1,305 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