Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Mata Utu Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Mata Utu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,428 in Mata Utu, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $6,886 in Mata Utu, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $8,345 in Mata Utu, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 76% cheaper than Mata Utu, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Playa del Carmen sits 3% below the global median, while Mata Utu is 305% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$11.46 CFPF 1,175

2.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$721

$115 CFPF 11.8K

-63.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$61.0

$8.16 CFPF 836

-56.86%

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

$1.51 MX$26.17

$5.70 CFPF 585

-73.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.87

$3.44 CFPF 353

-71.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.2

$5.72 CFPF 586

-22.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.97

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.78

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.37

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.42

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$145

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$145

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.12

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.25

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.94

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.98

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.77

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.87

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$18.02

$11.35 CFPF 1,163

-90.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.66

$4.61 CFPF 472

-76.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.7

$17.13 CFPF 1,755

-76.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$179

$17.21 CFPF 1,764

-40.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.67

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.63

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.83

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$459

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.5

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.17

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.65

$1.96 CFPF 201

-33.16%

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

$30.3K MX$524.7K

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

$23.4K MX$406.0K

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

$82.9 MX$1,436

$151 CFPF 15.5K

-45.15%

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

$22.22 MX$385

$114 CFPF 11.7K

-80.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$508

$3,490 CFPF 357.8K

-99.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$895

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.8

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

$201 MX$3,480

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$640

$230 CFPF 23.6K

-83.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$689

$93.0 CFPF 9,537

-57.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,360

$229 CFPF 23.4K

-65.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,509

$295 CFPF 30.2K

-70.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.9K

$925 CFPF 94.8K

5.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,105

$927 CFPF 95.1K

-49.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

$2,339 CFPF 239.7K

-29.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.2K

$2,335 CFPF 239.3K

-47.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

$3,530 CFPF 361.8K

-81.19%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Mata Utu: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $925 in Mata Utu. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 432% higher in Mata Utu, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $115 in Mata Utu. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Playa del Carmen vs $135 in Mata Utu – so Mata Utu wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Mata Utu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, $5,428 in Mata Utu – roughly 319% apart. Mata Utu costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $8,141 in Mata Utu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen and $115 in Mata Utu. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $5,428 in Mata Utu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Mata Utu at $5,428. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mata Utu it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,297 in Playa del Carmen to $5,428 in Mata Utu. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mata Utu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.