Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Maebashi

For one person, living costs are similar in Playa del Carmen and in Maebashi: $1,210 and $1,216 a month, rent and utilities included.

Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,210
/mo nomad
Maebashi
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,216
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Maebashi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Maebashi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,210 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,216 in Maebashi, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,210
  • Maebashi $1,216

A couple spends around $2,113 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,956 in Maebashi, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,113
  • Maebashi $1,956

A family of three spends $3,016 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,696 in Maebashi, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $3,016
  • Maebashi $2,696

Playa del Carmen and Maebashi have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Playa del Carmen and Maebashi are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 10% lower, Maebashi 10% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Maebashi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.76 MX$199
$4.39 ¥694
145.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.03 MX$795
$31.47 ¥4,972
36.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.79 MX$218
$5.16 ¥815
128.49%
Cappuccino
$3.87 MX$71.4
$2.48 ¥392
56.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 MX$25.29
$0.77 ¥122
77.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 MX$15.44
$0.61 ¥96.7
37.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.10 MX$57.3
$2.25 ¥355
37.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.07 MX$93.6
$3.23 ¥510
56.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Maebashi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$26.55
$1.22 ¥192
18.03%
White Bread (500g)
$2.23 MX$41.23
$1.53 ¥241
45.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.47 MX$27.17
$1.35 ¥213
8.89%
Eggs
$2.53 MX$46.71
$1.63 ¥258
55.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.30 MX$135
$15.66 ¥2,473
-53.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.86 MX$145
$4.42 ¥698
77.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.79 MX$236
$16.95 ¥2,679
-24.54%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 MX$53.6
$8.15 ¥1,288
-64.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MX$26.53
$3.03 ¥478
-52.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 MX$47.07
$4.91 ¥776
-48.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.06 MX$38.03
$7.65 ¥1,208
-73.07%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 MX$36.97
$3.96 ¥626
-49.49%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 MX$37.07
$4.75 ¥751
-57.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 MX$22.02
$1.17 ¥184
1.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 MX$23.23
$0.49 ¥77.8
157.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.40 MX$81.4
$3.94 ¥623
11.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.59 MX$177
$9.35 ¥1,477
2.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 MX$29.41
$2.50 ¥395
-36.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 MX$51.9
$2.07 ¥327
35.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Maebashi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 MX$10.47
$1.51 ¥238
-62.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.82 MX$514
$52.8 ¥8,335
-47.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.98 MX$92.1
$3.18 ¥502
56.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.50 MX$64.6
$2.83 ¥447
23.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.40 MX$99.8
$31.19 ¥4,927
-82.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 MX$27.08
$1.07 ¥169
37.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K MX$387.8K
$21.3K ¥3.4M
-1.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9K MX$441.8K
$15.3K ¥2.4M
55.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Maebashi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.2 MX$1,556
$118 ¥18.6K
-28.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.99 MX$443
$23.00 ¥3,633
4.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.02 MX$536
$31.59 ¥4,992
-8.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Maebashi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$63.0 MX$1,164
$51.5 ¥8,141
22.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.14 MX$539
$31.51 ¥4,978
-7.52%
Cinema Ticket
$4.94 MX$91.3
$11.16 ¥1,764
-55.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Maebashi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$204 MX$3,763
$575 ¥90.8K
-64.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,941 MX$72.8K
$14.4K ¥2.3M
-72.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Maebashi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.60 MX$806
$49.39 ¥7,803
-11.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.12 MX$797
$35.13 ¥5,550
22.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.8 MX$1,400
$60.7 ¥9,586
24.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.6 MX$1,637
$98.9 ¥15.6K
-10.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Maebashi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,008 MX$18.6K
$529 ¥83.6K
90.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$374 MX$6,911
$337 ¥53.3K
10.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 MX$31.6K
$1,091 ¥172.3K
56.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,106 MX$20.4K
$743 ¥117.4K
48.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,944 MX$72.9K
$3,756 ¥593.4K
5.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,169 MX$114.0K
$1,859 ¥293.6K
231.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Maebashi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$754 MX$13.9K
$1,696 ¥267.9K
-55.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
2.02
466.83%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 10, 2026

Last update for Maebashi: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$374
Maebashi
$337 9.9% $37
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$258
Maebashi
$343 32.9% $85
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$202
Maebashi
$104 48.8% $99
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Maebashi
$172 25.6% $35
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$113
Maebashi
$110 2.8% $3.2
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$73
Maebashi
$74 1.3% $1
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$53
Maebashi
$76 44.8% $24

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,008 in Playa del Carmen versus $529 in Maebashi. 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 125% higher in Maebashi. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $31.00 in Maebashi. Groceries tell a different story – $258 in Playa del Carmen vs $343 in Maebashi – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇯🇵 Maebashi
🕒 Local time
04:34 4:34 AM
18:34 6:34 PM
14 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
324,644
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

JPY, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.63 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Maebashi 12,040 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Maebashi

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Maebashi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,816 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,824 in Maebashi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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 food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Maebashi?
Groceries cost about 33% more in Maebashi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $204 per month in Playa del Carmen and $575 in Maebashi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Maebashi?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,210, than in Maebashi at $1,216. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Maebashi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Maebashi more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Maebashi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

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