😐A single person spends $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $928 in Mahebourg, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,126 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,536 in Mahebourg, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,980 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,144 in Mahebourg, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 37% 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, Mahebourg31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Mahebourg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87MX$204
$5.28MUR 249
124.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$736
$44.22MUR 2,083
-2.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$183
$6.18MUR 291
72.33%
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$59.2
$2.66MUR 125
29.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$25.81
$1.04MUR 48.76
44.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.28
$0.60MUR 28.18
58.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$51.9
$2.24MUR 105
35.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$79.1
$3.21MUR 151
43.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Mahebourg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.61
$1.03MUR 48.34
33.98%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$31.70
$0.45MUR 21.29
311.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.65
$1.29MUR 60.6
24.81%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.51
$1.75MUR 82.3
48.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$142
$5.70MUR 269
44.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$144
$6.21MUR 292
34.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$183
$12.67MUR 597
-15.86%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.12
$1.70MUR 79.8
54.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.53
$1.94MUR 91.6
-23.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$32.94
$1.48MUR 69.7
29.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.81
$2.64MUR 124
-20.83%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$31.88
$0.99MUR 46.60
87.88%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.81
$1.01MUR 47.39
123.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.23
$0.80MUR 37.72
32.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.67
$0.51MUR 23.93
113.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$71.2
$6.67MUR 314
-37.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$178
$8.48MUR 399
22.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.59
$1.36MUR 63.9
26.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$44.85
$1.68MUR 79.2
55.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Mahebourg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.30
$0.97MUR 45.73
-44.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$462
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$53.7
$4.49MUR 211
-30.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.09
$2.75MUR 129
-8.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$54.1
$19.88MUR 936
-84.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$21.88
$1.45MUR 68.5
-12.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KMX$521.3K
$36.0KMUR 1.7M
-15.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$404.5K
$29.2KMUR 1.4M
-19.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Mahebourg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0MX$1,425
$43.14MUR 2,032
92.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$390
$18.29MUR 861
24.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$506
$33.06MUR 1,557
-10.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Mahebourg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$875
$38.89MUR 1,831
31.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$315
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$84.5
$5.58MUR 263
-11.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Mahebourg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,386
$156MUR 7,352
26.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$90.6K
$3,975MUR 187.2K
32.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Mahebourg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$633
$67.1MUR 3,158
-44.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$685
$44.54MUR 2,097
-10.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,373
$77.5MUR 3,648
3.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,536
$72.2MUR 3,400
23.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Mahebourg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.4K
$520MUR 24.5K
83.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,189
$352MUR 16.6K
35.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.3K
$960MUR 45.2K
71.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.0K
$724MUR 34.1K
69.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$67.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$110.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Mahebourg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$11.4K
-
-
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Mahebourg: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $520 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 $44.00 in Mahebourg. Groceries tell a different story – $250 in Playa del Carmen vs $194 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: $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, $928 in Mahebourg – roughly 37% 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 $1,906 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,391 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 $1,271 in Playa del Carmen and $928 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 $197 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 $928, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. 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 $928 in Mahebourg to $1,271 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