😐A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $959 in Mahebourg, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,549 in Mahebourg, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,140 in Mahebourg, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 31% more than Mahebourg, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Mahebourg are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Mahebourg28% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Mahebourg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$5.28MUR 248
121.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$725
$43.92MUR 2,057
-4.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
$6.53MUR 306
60.95%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.0
$2.68MUR 125
33.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.10
$1.02MUR 47.99
48.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.83
$0.55MUR 25.99
67.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
$2.24MUR 105
32.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.3
$3.36MUR 157
31.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Mahebourg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.16
$0.96MUR 44.86
45.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.60
$0.45MUR 21.16
317.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$26.97
$1.28MUR 60.2
21.88%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.14
$1.80MUR 84.5
45.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$5.69MUR 267
46.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$6.04MUR 283
38.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
$12.75MUR 597
-14.82%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$46.93
$1.67MUR 78.3
62.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.04
$1.94MUR 90.9
-22.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.41
$1.44MUR 67.4
29.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.89
$2.64MUR 123
-17.05%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.14
$0.98MUR 46.04
89.80%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.59
$0.95MUR 44.73
134.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.48
$0.80MUR 37.61
33.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.79
$0.47MUR 21.83
131.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.4
$6.54MUR 306
-35.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$180
$8.28MUR 388
25.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.68
$1.28MUR 60.1
29.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.19
$1.62MUR 76.0
61.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Mahebourg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$0.97MUR 45.64
-44.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
$4.38MUR 205
-29.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.61
$2.63MUR 123
-8.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.1
$19.58MUR 917
-84.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.69
$1.40MUR 65.8
-6.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$515.7K
$35.5KMUR 1.7M
-16.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$403.5K
$28.3KMUR 1.3M
-17.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Mahebourg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,406
$43.53MUR 2,039
86.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$390
$18.04MUR 845
25.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$520
$32.87MUR 1,540
-8.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Mahebourg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$915
$37.77MUR 1,769
40.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$318
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.1
$5.59MUR 262
-11.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Mahebourg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,474
$156MUR 7,303
28.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.5K
$3,963MUR 185.6K
30.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Mahebourg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
$67.2MUR 3,145
-46.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$694
$44.03MUR 2,062
-8.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,379
$77.0MUR 3,608
3.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,496
$70.7MUR 3,312
22.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Mahebourg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
$519MUR 24.3K
88.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,140
$349MUR 16.3K
34.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
$933MUR 43.7K
77.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.8K
$719MUR 33.7K
67.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Mahebourg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
6.67
71.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Last update for Mahebourg: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $519 in Mahebourg. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $44.00 in Mahebourg. Groceries tell a different story – $252 in Playa del Carmen vs $191 in Mahebourg – so Mahebourg wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, $959 in Mahebourg – roughly 31% 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 $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,439 in Mahebourg. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Playa del Carmen and Mahebourg?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mahebourg, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Mahebourg?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $959 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 $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $156 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 $959, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. 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 $959 in Mahebourg to $1,260 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