😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $783 in Maringa.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,218 in Maringa.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,653 in Maringa.
😐Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 66% more expensive than Maringa, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen3% lower, Maringa42% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Maringa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$5.71R$28.57
105.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$720
$21.24R$106
95.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$7.04R$35.24
51.14%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$60.9
$1.78R$8.91
97.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.12
$1.09R$5.47
38.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.84
$0.68R$3.40
42.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.0
$1.48R$7.38
99.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.0
$2.67R$13.36
66.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Maringa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.93
$1.11R$5.55
24.32%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.72
$1.39R$6.98
35.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.32
$1.40R$7.02
17.14%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.34
$1.87R$9.34
34.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$9.81R$49.11
-14.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$3.57R$17.87
133.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$186
$7.56R$37.83
41.93%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.04
$1.65R$8.24
57.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.20
$1.35R$6.76
8.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.87
$0.85R$4.24
123.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.91
$1.23R$6.18
69.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.71
$1.04R$5.22
71.15%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.80
$0.93R$4.65
135.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$17.99
$0.75R$3.77
38.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.62
$0.74R$3.73
45.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.6
$2.16R$10.79
88.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$178
$8.08R$40.42
27.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.61
$0.75R$3.77
128.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.54
$1.47R$7.35
75.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Maringa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.81
$0.90R$4.49
-43.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$458
$53.0R$265
-50.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.4
$2.14R$10.73
52.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.09
$0.66R$3.31
277.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.2
$6.59R$32.96
-50.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.61
$1.07R$5.35
22.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$523.7K
$42.5KR$212.5K
-28.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$405.3K
$28.8KR$144.2K
-18.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Maringa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,433
$76.8R$384
7.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$384
$13.17R$65.9
68.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$507
$18.94R$94.8
54.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Maringa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$893
$19.15R$95.8
169.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
$44.70R$224
-59.02%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.6
$5.53R$27.70
-8.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Maringa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,473
$268R$1,340
-25.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.1K
$6,903R$34.5K
-24.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Maringa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$639
$38.43R$192
-3.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$688
$54.1R$271
-26.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,357
$77.5R$388
1.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,506
$54.4R$272
59.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Maringa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.8K
$347R$1,737
180.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,090
$204R$1,021
129.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$495R$2,479
231.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.1K
$325R$1,624
276.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.3K
$1,430R$7,156
175.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.4K
$958R$4,796
578.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Maringa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
$788R$3,943
-15.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
11.5
-0.70%
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 Maringa: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $347 in Maringa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Maringa pays 19% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $21.00 in Maringa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $174 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 66% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Maringa?
On paper, Maringa earns 19% less. 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: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $347 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 100% 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 $268 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 Playa del Carmen or Maringa?
At $783 in Maringa versus $1,297 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 66% 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