😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $771 in Marilia.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,125 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,224 in Marilia.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,990 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,677 in Marilia.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 63% more expensive than in Marilia, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen5% lower, Marilia42% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Marilia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$204
$5.54R$28.34
111.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$731
$27.22R$139
53.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$183
$6.20R$31.75
69.52%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.5
$1.81R$9.24
98.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.31
$1.08R$5.50
39.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.96
$0.61R$3.12
50.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.6
$1.75R$8.94
69.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.9
$2.74R$14.02
60.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Marilia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.35
$1.07R$5.47
30.84%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.87
$2.00R$10.24
-6.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$27.19
$0.97R$4.95
60.82%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.50
$1.80R$9.21
45.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$145
$9.20R$47.08
-9.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$146
$3.71R$18.97
125.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$189
$6.20R$31.74
75.16%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$47.31
$2.19R$11.19
23.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.25
$0.87R$4.43
73.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.67
$1.20R$6.16
55.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$38.19
$1.50R$7.67
46.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.40
$1.20R$6.12
55.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.90
$1.11R$5.68
100.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.63
$0.75R$3.85
42.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.94
$0.67R$3.44
62.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$73.0
$2.09R$10.69
100.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$182
$7.75R$39.65
34.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.91
$1.23R$6.28
34.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.56
$1.99R$10.20
31.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Marilia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.45
$0.95R$4.87
-43.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$456
$38.57R$197
-32.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.7
$1.11R$5.68
177.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.94
$0.70R$3.58
242.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.5
$6.22R$31.85
-49.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.87
$0.92R$4.72
42.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$519.9K
$20.9KR$106.9K
42.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$406.8K
$27.9KR$142.7K
-16.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Marilia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,418
$61.6R$315
31.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$393
$13.65R$69.8
65.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$524
$18.81R$96.3
59.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Marilia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$923
$22.91R$117
130.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$321
$21.50R$110
-14.47%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.8
$6.24R$31.94
-21.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Marilia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,502
$269R$1,374
-25.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$90.2K
$6,612R$33.8K
-21.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Marilia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$627
$48.65R$249
-26.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$700
$42.60R$218
-5.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,390
$76.2R$390
4.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,508
$64.9R$332
33.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Marilia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$17.1K
$319R$1,632
206.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,206
$220R$1,123
114.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.8K
$594R$3,038
178.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$21.0K
$425R$2,177
182.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$69.0K
$1,599R$8,185
147.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$115.2K
$1,159R$5,929
470.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Marilia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.8K
$389R$1,989
74.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
10.92
4.58%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Last update for Marilia: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $978 in Playa del Carmen and $319 in Marilia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Playa del Carmen pays 74% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $27.00 in Marilia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $177 per month, with Marilia cheaper across the board.
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 Marilia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Marilia cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Marilia is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 63% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Marilia?
Average pay runs 74% higher in Playa del Carmen, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Marilia?
Rent for a central apartment: $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $319 in Marilia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Marilia runs roughly 47% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $201 in Playa del Carmen versus $269 in Marilia. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Marilia?
At $771 in Marilia versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Marilia but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Marilia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Marilia more family-friendly?
For families, Marilia is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Marilia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 63% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared