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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $379 in Mary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,125 in Playa del Carmen versus $578 in Mary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,990 in Playa del Carmen versus $777 in Mary.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 232% more expensive than in Mary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Mary 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 MX$203

$11.22 TMT 37.70

4.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.89 MX$725

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.51 MX$182

$8.77 TMT 29.47

19.84%

Cappuccino

$3.59 MX$62.0

$8.53 TMT 28.65

-57.91%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 MX$26.10

$6.56 TMT 22.03

-76.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 MX$15.83

$1.46 TMT 4.90

-36.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 MX$51.2

$6.76 TMT 22.71

-56.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 MX$76.3

$11.47 TMT 38.53

-61.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 MX$24.16

$2.88 TMT 9.68

-51.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.60

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 MX$26.97

Eggs

$2.61 MX$45.14

$6.74 TMT 22.65

-61.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.32 MX$144

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.35 MX$145

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 MX$188

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 MX$46.93

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MX$26.04

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.41

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.89

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.14

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 MX$38.59

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.48

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.79

$1.13 TMT 3.79

-3.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.4

Wine (Bottle)

$10.43 MX$180

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 MX$28.68

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$45.19

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.37

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.16 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 MX$53.3

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$41.61

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$54.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.69

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.8K MX$515.7K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.3K MX$403.5K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$81.3 MX$1,406

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.56 MX$390

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.05 MX$520

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 MX$915

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.39 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 MX$85.1

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$201 MX$3,474

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,175 MX$89.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.92 MX$622

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.13 MX$694

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 MX$1,379

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,496

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$978 MX$16.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 MX$8,140

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,651 MX$28.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 MX$20.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,953 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,607 MX$114.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$677 MX$11.7K

$208 TMT 698

225.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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 Mary: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Playa del Carmen pays 226% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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 Mary: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mary wins on cost – living expenses run 232% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mary the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 226% 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 263% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $379 in Mary – a 232% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $379 in Mary versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mary but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Mary the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Mary delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $379 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mary hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Mary are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Mary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 232% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.