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: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $371 in Mary.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $569 in Mary.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $767 in Mary.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 247% more expensive than Mary, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 4% lower, Mary 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.94 MX$209

$11.21 TMT 39.25

6.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.75 MX$748

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.59 MX$185

$8.32 TMT 29.13

27.28%

Cappuccino

$3.62 MX$63.4

$8.50 TMT 29.76

-57.41%

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

$1.47 MX$25.69

$6.41 TMT 22.43

-77.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 MX$16.51

$1.40 TMT 4.91

-32.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 MX$54.1

$6.43 TMT 22.52

-51.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 MX$78.0

$11.60 TMT 40.60

-61.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.94

$2.77 TMT 9.71

-48.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.97

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 MX$28.50

Eggs

$2.64 MX$46.26

$6.69 TMT 23.43

-60.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.21 MX$144

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$145

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.10 MX$194

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 MX$46.40

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$26.26

Oranges (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.79

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.33

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 MX$31.29

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$38.09

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MX$18.84

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 MX$18.15

$1.15 TMT 4.03

-9.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.97 MX$69.5

Wine (Bottle)

$10.20 MX$179

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.22

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 MX$43.71

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 MX$9.07

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.97 MX$472

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 MX$55.0

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$42.04

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 MX$54.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 MX$22.28

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

$30.9K MX$540.4K

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

$23.3K MX$408.0K

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

$82.0 MX$1,435

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

$22.45 MX$393

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.66 MX$519

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 MX$908

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$327

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 MX$87.0

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

$198 MX$3,462

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,273 MX$92.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.34 MX$636

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.05 MX$701

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 MX$1,398

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,555

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$963 MX$16.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MX$8,133

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,596 MX$27.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 MX$21.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,942 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,448 MX$112.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$720 MX$12.6K

$208 TMT 728

246.16%

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Mary: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Playa del Carmen pays 246% 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 247% 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.

Playa del Carmen pays 246% more on average, 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 267% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $371 in Mary – a 247% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $371 in Mary versus $1,287 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 $371 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 247% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.