😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $775 in Martil.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,137 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,222 in Martil.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,017 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,670 in Martil.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 62% more expensive than in Martil, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen6% lower, Martil42% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Martil
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$209
$2.81MAD 26.32
326.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$728
$27.47MAD 257
52.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$187
$6.63MAD 62.0
62.14%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$60.9
$2.08MAD 19.42
68.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.22
$0.43MAD 4.01
237.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.41
$0.40MAD 3.71
120.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.3
$5.46MAD 51.1
-45.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.6
$4.13MAD 38.62
9.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Martil
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$0.82MAD 7.69
74.39%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.99
$0.48MAD 4.47
283.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.31
$1.96MAD 18.33
-19.90%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.74
$1.91MAD 17.92
31.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$144
$13.13MAD 123
-36.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$7.08MAD 66.2
19.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$186
$11.94MAD 112
-10.55%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.43
$1.54MAD 14.39
69.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.04
$1.20MAD 11.23
20.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.16
$0.77MAD 7.21
154.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.47
$0.85MAD 7.97
145.88%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.24
$0.67MAD 6.30
176.12%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.74
$0.66MAD 6.20
228.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$17.96
$0.43MAD 3.98
139.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.70
$0.59MAD 5.50
81.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.4
$4.40MAD 41.13
-6.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$177
$8.03MAD 75.1
26.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.17
$2.62MAD 24.51
-35.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.98
$2.55MAD 23.88
-0.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Martil
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.87
$0.47MAD 4.43
8.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$453
$16.48MAD 154
58.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.3
$0.54MAD 5.02
498.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$41.88
$0.88MAD 8.21
173.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.2
$4.29MAD 40.12
-24.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.00
$1.58MAD 14.76
-16.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$517.1K
$37.9KMAD 354.4K
-21.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$412.0K
$29.3KMAD 274.2K
-19.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Martil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,428
$41.32MAD 387
98.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$400
$10.96MAD 103
109.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$524
$39.75MAD 372
-24.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Martil
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$905
$24.53MAD 230
111.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$323
$23.15MAD 217
-19.96%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$86.6
$6.44MAD 60.3
-22.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Martil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,438
$159MAD 1,489
24.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$92.9K
$6,556MAD 61.3K
-18.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Martil
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$620
$52.9MAD 495
-32.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
$47.85MAD 448
-15.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,371
$107MAD 999
-26.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,549
$97.3MAD 911
-8.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Martil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.5K
$276MAD 2,584
242.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,254
$171MAD 1,601
177.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.6K
$512MAD 4,791
221.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.1K
$306MAD 2,861
295.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$70.6K
$1,214MAD 11.4K
234.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$112.7K
$905MAD 8,466
615.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Martil
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
4.81
137.42%
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 Martil: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $947 in Playa del Carmen and $276 in Martil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $27.00 in Martil for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $208 per month, with Martil 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 Martil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Martil?
Martil wins on cost – living expenses run 62% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Martil the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen and in Martil?
You'd need roughly $1,884 in Playa del Carmen and $1,162 in Martil to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen compared to Martil?
Rent for a central apartment: $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $276 in Martil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Playa del Carmen compared to Martil?
A monthly transit pass in Martil runs roughly 58% less than in Playa del Carmen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Martil?
Childcare runs $197 in Playa del Carmen versus $159 in Martil. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or in Martil?
At $775 in Martil versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Martil but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Martil the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Martil?
Both work as nomad bases, but Martil delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $775 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Martil hard to pass up.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Martil?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Martil are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Martil gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% 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