Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Manakara Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Manakara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $389 in Manakara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $583 in Manakara, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $776 in Manakara, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 233% more than Manakara, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Manakara are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Manakara 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$2.16 MGA 9,043

443.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$721

$14.90 MGA 62.5K

179.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

$3.53 MGA 14.8K

201.42%

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$61.0

$1.19 MGA 5,010

195.80%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 MX$26.17

$0.61 MGA 2,572

147.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.87

$0.55 MGA 2,286

76.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.1

$1.19 MGA 5,002

147.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.2

$1.42 MGA 5,965

213.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.97

$1.82 MGA 7,612

-24.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.78

$0.98 MGA 4,124

92.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.37

$0.73 MGA 3,075

124.66%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.42

$2.23 MGA 9,332

12.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$145

$6.32 MGA 26.5K

31.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$145

$3.36 MGA 14.1K

148.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

$3.52 MGA 14.8K

204.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.12

$0.95 MGA 3,978

173.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.25

$0.73 MGA 3,075

100.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.94

$0.35 MGA 1,454

442.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.98

$0.73 MGA 3,065

184.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.77

$0.54 MGA 2,267

229.63%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.87

$0.76 MGA 3,192

188.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$18.02

$0.31 MGA 1,315

235.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.66

$0.70 MGA 2,915

54.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.7

$1.41 MGA 5,901

189.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$179

$4.71 MGA 19.8K

119.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.67

$1.07 MGA 4,469

59.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.63

$1.32 MGA 5,519

95.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.83

$0.21 MGA 877

142.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$459

$17.46 MGA 73.2K

51.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.5

$1.13 MGA 4,721

188.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.17

$2.18 MGA 9,142

14.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.3

$3.42 MGA 14.3K

-4.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.65

$1.19 MGA 4,993

10.08%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.3K MX$524.7K

$15.4K MGA 64.6M

96.60%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.4K MX$406.0K

$20.4K MGA 85.6M

14.78%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.9 MX$1,436

$42.44 MGA 178.0K

95.26%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.22 MX$385

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$508

$53.1 MGA 222.8K

-44.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$895

$11.41 MGA 47.8K

352.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.8

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$201 MX$3,480

$21.80 MGA 91.4K

821.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$640

$16.48 MGA 69.1K

124.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$689

$20.25 MGA 84.9K

96.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,360

$45.64 MGA 191.4K

71.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,509

$44.89 MGA 188.2K

94.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,105

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

$125 MGA 525.5K

429.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

-52.42%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Manakara: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 430% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $15.00 in Manakara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $130 – making Manakara 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 Manakara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 233%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $584 in Manakara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $21.80 in Manakara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 91% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Manakara, where all-in costs run around $389, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Manakara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Manakara – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Manakara. 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.