😐A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $946 in Mahebourg, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,541 in Mahebourg, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,136 in Mahebourg, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 36% more than Mahebourg, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Mahebourg are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen4% lower, Mahebourg29% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Mahebourg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$5.21MUR 244
129.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$43.48MUR 2,034
-1.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$6.23MUR 291
69.98%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$2.58MUR 121
40.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$1.01MUR 47.25
45.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$0.60MUR 28.20
56.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$2.25MUR 105
37.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$3.25MUR 152
37.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Mahebourg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$0.94MUR 44.16
52.13%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$0.49MUR 23.01
283.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$1.32MUR 61.6
23.48%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$1.73MUR 81.2
52.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$5.51MUR 258
49.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$6.02MUR 282
37.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$12.40MUR 580
-10.48%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$1.69MUR 79.3
56.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$2.00MUR 93.7
-25.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$1.45MUR 68.0
37.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$2.61MUR 122
-20.31%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$0.99MUR 46.28
80.81%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$0.92MUR 43.25
136.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$0.85MUR 39.72
27.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.50MUR 23.43
108.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$6.53MUR 305
-39.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$8.45MUR 395
20.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$1.36MUR 63.4
27.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$1.62MUR 75.9
54.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Mahebourg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$0.94MUR 43.98
-44.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$4.27MUR 200
-26.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$2.73MUR 128
-12.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$19.43MUR 909
-84.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$1.40MUR 65.5
-9.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$35.5KMUR 1.7M
-13.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$28.6KMUR 1.3M
-18.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Mahebourg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$43.50MUR 2,035
88.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$18.40MUR 861
22.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$32.25MUR 1,509
-8.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Mahebourg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$38.21MUR 1,788
35.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$5.46MUR 255
-8.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Mahebourg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$155MUR 7,238
27.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$3,999MUR 187.1K
31.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Mahebourg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$65.3MUR 3,055
-44.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$44.57MUR 2,085
-10.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$78.4MUR 3,666
1.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$70.6MUR 3,302
25.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Mahebourg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$517MUR 24.2K
86.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$351MUR 16.4K
32.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$943MUR 44.1K
69.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$708MUR 33.1K
70.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Mahebourg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
-
-
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: April 25, 2026
Last update for Mahebourg: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $517 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $43.00 in Mahebourg. Groceries tell a different story – $251 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 Mahebourg compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, $946 in Mahebourg – roughly 36% 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 $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,420 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 $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $946 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 $198 per month in Playa del Carmen and $155 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 $946, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. 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 $946 in Mahebourg to $1,287 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