😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $818 in Maringa.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,279 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,265 in Maringa.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,292 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,712 in Maringa.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 55% more expensive than in Maringa, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen7% lower, Maringa40% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Maringa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$5.70R$29.38
103.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$812
$23.76R$122
98.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$8.25R$42.51
44.00%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.6
$1.99R$10.23
100.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.60
$1.25R$6.44
14.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.22
$0.74R$3.80
10.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$55.0
$1.55R$7.98
105.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$2.65R$13.67
156.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Maringa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.89
$1.23R$6.36
36.59%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.88
$1.56R$8.04
41.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.45
$1.44R$7.41
18.75%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.26
$1.93R$9.93
41.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
$10.84R$55.8
-11.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$3.80R$19.59
137.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
$8.49R$43.75
50.88%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.81
$1.86R$9.59
55.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.81
$1.29R$6.64
16.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.03
$0.75R$3.88
186.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.96
$1.34R$6.89
68.66%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.15
$1.12R$5.76
76.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.30
$0.99R$5.10
101.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.28
$0.86R$4.45
43.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.63
$0.80R$4.11
50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.5
$1.92R$9.87
136.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
$7.56R$38.95
37.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.91
$0.79R$4.07
105.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.67
$1.52R$7.83
89.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Maringa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.35
$1.00R$5.18
-40.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$497
$44.57R$230
-35.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.9
$2.38R$12.29
126.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.3
$0.80R$4.10
366.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.5
$2.69R$13.84
114.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.48
$1.20R$6.19
28.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.8K
$35.2KR$181.5K
-35.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$449.3K
$32.4KR$166.7K
-19.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Maringa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,576
$83.4R$429
9.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$435
$10.67R$55.0
136.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$539
$22.85R$118
36.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Maringa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,159
$21.42R$110
213.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$502
$48.43R$250
-39.89%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.8
$5.75R$29.62
-15.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Maringa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,856
$293R$1,508
-23.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.9K
$7,541R$38.9K
-43.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Maringa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$812
$41.48R$214
13.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$764
$58.2R$300
-23.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,381
$85.6R$441
-6.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,598
$58.8R$303
57.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Maringa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
$324R$1,667
228.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,728
$201R$1,035
94.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.1K
$614R$3,163
250.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
$371R$1,910
243.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$69.0K
$1,444R$7,441
177.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$112.1K
$938R$4,833
593.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Maringa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.1K
$775R$3,991
-2.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
10.5
9.05%
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 Maringa: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen and $324 in Maringa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Maringa pays 2% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $24.00 in Maringa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $276 vs $186 per month, with Maringa 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 Maringa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maringa cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Maringa is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 55% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Maringa?
On paper, salaries run 2% lower in Maringa. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Maringa?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $324 in Maringa. 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 Maringa runs roughly 55% 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 $224 in Playa del Carmen versus $293 in Maringa. 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 Maringa?
At $818 in Maringa versus $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Maringa but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Maringa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Maringa more family-friendly?
For families, Maringa 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 Maringa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% 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