😐A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $943 in Mahebourg, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,195 in Mahebourg, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,446 in Mahebourg, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 34% more than Mahebourg, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Mahebourg are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen7% lower, Mahebourg31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Mahebourg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$199
$5.09MUR 242
127.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$809
$38.85MUR 1,845
21.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$204
$5.10MUR 242
132.94%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.2
$2.62MUR 125
51.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.49
$1.17MUR 55.7
22.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.16
$0.66MUR 31.33
24.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$54.7
$2.60MUR 123
22.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$4.88MUR 232
39.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Mahebourg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.76
$1.61MUR 76.5
4.35%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.71
$0.78MUR 37.07
182.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.32
$1.10MUR 52.5
55.45%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.05
$2.64MUR 125
3.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$164
$5.45MUR 259
75.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$6.35MUR 301
41.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$220
$11.50MUR 546
11.39%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.58
$2.77MUR 132
4.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.70
$2.61MUR 124
-42.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.87
$1.43MUR 68.0
50.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.79
$2.91MUR 138
-22.34%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.00
$1.01MUR 48.20
96.04%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.15
$1.02MUR 48.39
95.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.18
$0.69MUR 32.58
78.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.54
$0.86MUR 40.71
39.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.1
$6.41MUR 304
-29.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$178
$8.28MUR 393
25.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.79
$1.65MUR 78.3
-1.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.44
$2.32MUR 110
24.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Mahebourg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.30
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$494
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.5
$4.19MUR 199
28.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.0
$3.14MUR 149
18.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.0
$20.96MUR 995
-72.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.37
$1.35MUR 64.1
14.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$387.0K
$37.2KMUR 1.8M
-39.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$447.3K
$31.4KMUR 1.5M
-17.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Mahebourg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,569
$45.56MUR 2,164
100.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$433
$10.59MUR 503
137.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$536
$29.34MUR 1,394
6.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Mahebourg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,154
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$500
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.5
$6.40MUR 304
-24.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Mahebourg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,839
$128MUR 6,103
74.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.6K
$7,730MUR 367.2K
-45.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Mahebourg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$808
$76.5MUR 3,633
-38.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$760
$74.3MUR 3,530
-40.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,375
$122MUR 5,792
-34.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,591
$76.6MUR 3,639
20.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Mahebourg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.2K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,698
$346MUR 16.4K
12.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$36.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$68.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$111.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Mahebourg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
6.67
71.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Last update for Mahebourg: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $39.00 in Mahebourg. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $219 – making Mahebourg 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 Mahebourg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and in Mahebourg compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, $943 in Mahebourg – roughly 34% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Mahebourg?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,415 in Mahebourg. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Mahebourg?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $943 in Mahebourg. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Playa del Carmen and Mahebourg?
Kindergarten costs $224 per month in Playa del Carmen and $128 in Mahebourg. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mahebourg, where all-in costs run around $943, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Mahebourg it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Mahebourg?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $943 in Mahebourg to $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Playa del Carmen or Mahebourg safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Mahebourg?
If budget matters most, go with Mahebourg. 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