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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,746 in Mariehamn, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,644 in Mariehamn, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,543 in Mariehamn, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 28% cheaper than Mariehamn, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Mariehamn is 31% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Mariehamn
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$209
$14.99 €13.13
-20.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78 MX$728
$68.3 €59.8
-38.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.75 MX$187
$11.78 €10.32
-8.74%
Cappuccino
$3.50 MX$60.9
$3.92 €3.43
-10.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$25.22
$2.79 €2.44
-48.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 MX$15.41
$1.97 €1.73
-55.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.3
$7.91 €6.93
-62.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51 MX$78.6
$6.41 €5.62
-29.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Mariehamn
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
$1.29 €1.13
10.85%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 MX$31.99
$3.06 €2.68
-39.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$27.31
$3.39 €2.97
-53.69%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.74
$2.99 €2.62
-16.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.28 MX$144
$12.62 €11.06
-34.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.43 MX$147
$10.31 €9.03
-18.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.68 MX$186
$19.58 €17.15
-45.45%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 MX$45.43
$2.82 €2.47
-7.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MX$25.04
$2.57 €2.25
-43.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 MX$34.16
$2.49 €2.18
-21.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$36.47
$4.68 €4.10
-55.34%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 MX$32.24
$1.60 €1.40
15.63%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.74
$1.43 €1.25
51.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 MX$17.96
$2.82 €2.47
-63.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$18.70
$2.06 €1.80
-48.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10 MX$71.4
$10.11 €8.86
-59.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.17 MX$177
$13.88 €12.16
-26.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$29.17
$3.73 €3.27
-54.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 MX$43.98
$3.44 €3.01
-26.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Mariehamn
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.87
$2.83 €2.48
-81.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.04 MX$453
$58.4 €51.1
-55.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.3
$8.21 €7.19
-60.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.41 MX$41.88
$1.06 €0.93
127.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.2
$22.89 €20.04
-85.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 MX$23.00
$2.29 €2.01
-42.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K MX$517.1K
$27.2K €23.8K
9.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K MX$412.0K
$25.6K €22.4K
-7.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Mariehamn
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,428
$209 €183
-60.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95 MX$400
$32.73 €28.66
-29.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11 MX$524
$42.33 €37.07
-28.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Mariehamn
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 MX$905
$43.79 €38.35
18.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53 MX$323
$22.91 €20.06
-19.12%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98 MX$86.6
$16.33 €14.30
-69.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Mariehamn
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,438
$164 €143
20.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,336 MX$92.9K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Mariehamn
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60 MX$620
$82.2 €72.0
-56.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33 MX$702
$32.75 €28.68
23.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.8 MX$1,371
$94.6 €82.8
-16.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,549
$94.2 €82.5
-5.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Mariehamn
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$947 MX$16.5K
$658 €577
43.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,254
$526 €461
-9.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,644 MX$28.6K
$1,146 €1,004
43.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,211 MX$21.1K
$846 €741
43.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,056 MX$70.6K
$2,661 €2,331
52.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,470 MX$112.7K
$1,486 €1,301
335.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Mariehamn
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 MX$11.4K
$2,761 €2,418
-76.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
3.9
192.82%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Last update for Mariehamn: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $658 in Mariehamn. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 322% higher in Mariehamn, 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 $68.0 in Mariehamn. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $377 – making Playa del Carmen 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 Mariehamn: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Mariehamn?
Mariehamn costs about 39% more than Playa del Carmen, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen and in Mariehamn?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,618 in Mariehamn. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Mariehamn?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Mariehamn?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $1,746 in Mariehamn. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Playa del Carmen compared to Mariehamn?
Public transport costs about 124% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or in Mariehamn?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Mariehamn at $1,746. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mariehamn it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Mariehamn?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Playa del Carmen costs $1,256 versus $1,746 in Mariehamn. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or to Mariehamn?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mariehamn makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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