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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $766 in Manizales, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,743 in Manizales, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,721 in Manizales, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 65% more than Manizales, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Manizales are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 7% lower, Manizales 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.60 MX$200

$6.42 COP 20.0K

80.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.11 MX$812

$41.11 COP 128.3K

14.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.88 MX$205

$10.27 COP 32.0K

15.68%

Cappuccino

$3.98 MX$68.6

$2.56 COP 7,974

55.47%

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

$1.43 MX$24.60

$1.37 COP 4,287

4.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 MX$14.22

$0.83 COP 2,594

-1.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 MX$55.0

$1.59 COP 4,950

100.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.79 MX$117

$2.61 COP 8,147

160.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.89

$1.61 COP 5,038

4.35%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 MX$37.88

$2.44 COP 7,617

-9.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.45

$1.67 COP 5,206

2.40%

Eggs

$2.74 MX$47.26

$3.85 COP 12.0K

-28.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 MX$165

$7.91 COP 24.7K

21.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.01 MX$155

$7.50 COP 23.4K

20.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.81 MX$221

$10.86 COP 33.9K

17.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.89 MX$49.81

$3.54 COP 11.1K

-18.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.81

$1.82 COP 5,693

-17.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 MX$37.03

$2.05 COP 6,404

4.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.96

$1.85 COP 5,768

22.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 MX$34.15

$1.54 COP 4,799

28.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.30

$1.46 COP 4,554

36.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 MX$21.28

$1.39 COP 4,335

-11.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 MX$20.63

$1.22 COP 3,822

-1.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 MX$78.5

$4.59 COP 14.3K

-0.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.37 MX$179

$12.73 COP 39.7K

-18.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.91

$1.44 COP 4,478

12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 MX$49.67

$2.86 COP 8,923

0.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.35

$1.08 COP 3,363

-44.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.80 MX$497

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.39 MX$92.9

$1.64 COP 5,121

228.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.73 MX$64.3

$1.64 COP 5,107

127.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.77 MX$99.5

$9.88 COP 30.8K

-41.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.48

$1.38 COP 4,297

11.59%

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

$22.5K MX$388.8K

$22.3K COP 69.6M

1.17%

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

$26.1K MX$449.3K

$35.3K COP 110.1M

-26.13%

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

$91.4 MX$1,576

$129 COP 401.8K

-29.04%

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

$25.20 MX$435

$12.46 COP 38.9K

102.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.24 MX$539

$31.40 COP 98.0K

-0.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 MX$1,159

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.11 MX$502

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$83.8

$7.95 COP 24.8K

-38.87%

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

$224 MX$3,856

$489 COP 1.5M

-54.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,229 MX$72.9K

$6,507 COP 20.3M

-35.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 MX$812

$83.4 COP 260.3K

-43.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.29 MX$764

$49.64 COP 154.9K

-10.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.1 MX$1,381

$144 COP 448.8K

-44.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 MX$1,598

$112 COP 350.2K

-17.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,063 MX$18.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 MX$6,728

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,149 MX$37.1K

$1,041 COP 3.2M

106.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 MX$21.9K

$1,038 COP 3.2M

22.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,001 MX$69.0K

$2,136 COP 6.7M

87.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,502 MX$112.1K

$2,123 COP 6.6M

206.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$758 MX$13.1K

$1,213 COP 3.8M

-37.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

-4.58%

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 Manizales: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 60% higher in Manizales, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $41.00 in Manizales. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $269 – making Manizales 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 Manizales: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, $766 in Manizales – roughly 65% apart. Playa del Carmen costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,149 in Manizales. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $766 in Manizales. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $224 per month in Playa del Carmen and $489 in Manizales. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Manizales, where all-in costs run around $766, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Manizales it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $766 in Manizales to $1,266 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Manizales. 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.