😐A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $954 in Linden, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,606 in Linden, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,257 in Linden, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 36% more than Linden, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Linden are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen3% lower, Linden29% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Linden
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$12.14GYD 2,523
-3.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$721
$72.7GYD 15.1K
-42.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$8.70GYD 1,809
22.30%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$61.0
$5.09GYD 1,058
-30.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.17
$1.25GYD 260
20.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.87
$0.69GYD 144
40.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.1
$2.01GYD 418
46.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.2
$2.44GYD 507
82.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Linden
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.97
$3.34GYD 695
-58.68%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.78
$2.04GYD 424
-7.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.37
$1.95GYD 406
-15.90%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.42
$3.97GYD 825
-36.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$145
$13.76GYD 2,860
-39.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$145
$6.35GYD 1,320
31.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$186
$9.70GYD 2,017
10.62%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.12
$9.61GYD 1,998
-72.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.25
$2.66GYD 553
-45.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.94
$3.19GYD 663
-40.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.98
$6.28GYD 1,305
-66.88%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.77
$2.47GYD 513
-27.94%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.87
$2.96GYD 615
-26.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$18.02
$2.25GYD 468
-53.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.66
$1.51GYD 314
-28.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.7
$2.72GYD 564
50.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$179
$16.43GYD 3,415
-37.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.67
$1.72GYD 358
-0.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.63
$2.51GYD 522
2.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Linden
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.83
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$459
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.5
$3.13GYD 650
4.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.17
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.3
$11.84GYD 2,462
-72.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.65
$1.05GYD 219
24.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$524.7K
$21.9KGYD 4.6M
37.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.0K
$17.3KGYD 3.6M
35.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Linden
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,436
$89.6GYD 18.6K
-7.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$385
$27.23GYD 5,661
-18.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$508
$52.2GYD 10.8K
-43.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Linden
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$895
$38.56GYD 8,017
33.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.8
$6.52GYD 1,355
-22.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Linden
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,480
$1,009GYD 209.9K
-80.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.3K
$22.9KGYD 4.8M
-77.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Linden
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$640
$34.53GYD 7,178
6.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$689
$52.9GYD 11.0K
-24.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,360
$127GYD 26.4K
-38.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,509
$76.4GYD 15.9K
13.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Linden
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,105
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
-
-
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
Linden
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
-
-
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: June 2, 2026
Last update for Linden: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $73.0 in Linden. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $375 – 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 36% 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 vs Linden?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,431 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 $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $954 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 Linden?
Kindergarten costs $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,009 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 Linden?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Linden, where all-in costs run around $954, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. 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 $954 versus $1,297 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 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