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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,262 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,440 in Macerata, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,158 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,301 in Macerata, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,054 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,163 in Macerata, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 12% cheaper than Macerata, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Macerata is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Macerata
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.61 MX$201
$17.61 €14.99
-34.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$742
$80.7 €68.7
-47.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.60 MX$184
$10.78 €9.17
-1.67%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.3
$1.84 €1.57
95.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$25.21
$2.53 €2.15
-42.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 MX$15.58
$1.25 €1.06
-28.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$52.6
$6.28 €5.35
-51.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56 MX$79.2
$5.06 €4.30
-9.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Macerata
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 MX$25.20
$1.52 €1.29
-4.61%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 MX$31.72
$2.28 €1.94
-19.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.92
$3.14 €2.67
-48.73%
Eggs
$2.54 MX$44.05
$4.32 €3.68
-41.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.54 MX$148
$17.42 €14.82
-50.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.47 MX$147
$11.29 €9.61
-24.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 MX$189
$20.92 €17.80
-48.09%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 MX$47.37
$2.33 €1.98
17.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 MX$25.91
$1.94 €1.65
-23.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 MX$33.73
$2.24 €1.91
-13.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.57
$2.35 €2.00
-8.09%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 MX$32.05
$1.62 €1.38
14.20%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$38.00
$1.72 €1.47
27.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.62
$0.61 €0.52
75.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.81
$0.40 €0.34
170.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06 MX$70.5
$6.92 €5.89
-41.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.46 MX$182
$5.26 €4.48
98.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 MX$28.71
$1.72 €1.46
-4.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 MX$44.23
$2.44 €2.08
4.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Macerata
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.56 MX$9.65
$1.61 €1.37
-65.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.20 MX$455
$34.77 €29.59
-24.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$54.5
$5.93 €5.05
-47.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.37 MX$41.17
$1.57 €1.34
50.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$56.2
$37.40 €31.82
-91.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.81
$2.03 €1.73
-35.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K MX$530.2K
$31.9K €27.1K
-4.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K MX$413.6K
$30.9K €26.3K
-23.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Macerata
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.1 MX$1,443
$208 €177
-60.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.15 MX$385
$9.90 €8.43
123.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.37 MX$510
$30.51 €25.96
-3.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Macerata
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.2 MX$889
$53.3 €45.35
-3.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69 MX$324
$25.52 €21.71
-26.76%
Cinema Ticket
$4.89 MX$84.9
$9.74 €8.29
-49.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Macerata
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$199 MX$3,449
$400 €340
-50.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,207 MX$90.4K
$9,472 €8,060
-45.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Macerata
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93 MX$624
$73.4 €62.5
-51.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.39 MX$684
$31.29 €26.62
25.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.3 MX$1,394
$63.9 €54.3
25.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6 MX$1,520
$70.5 €60.0
24.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Macerata
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.7K
$510 €434
88.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 MX$8,370
$390 €332
23.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,645 MX$28.6K
$860 €732
91.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,192 MX$20.7K
$697 €593
70.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,957 MX$68.7K
$3,112 €2,648
27.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,513 MX$113.1K
$2,148 €1,828
203.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Macerata
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$726 MX$12.6K
$1,894 €1,612
-61.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
3
280.67%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026

Last update for Macerata: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $510 in Macerata. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 161% higher in Macerata, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $81 in Macerata. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $323 – 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 Macerata: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Macerata?
Macerata costs about 14% more than Playa del Carmen, 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 Macerata?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,894 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,160 in Macerata. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Macerata?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and Macerata?
Kindergarten costs $199 per month in Playa del Carmen and $400 in Macerata. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or Macerata?
Groceries cost about 28% more in Macerata, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or Macerata?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,262, than in Macerata at $1,440. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Macerata it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Macerata?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,262 versus $1,440 in Macerata. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Macerata?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or Macerata?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Macerata makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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