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 $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $5,462 in Mata Utu, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $6,930 in Mata Utu, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $8,399 in Mata Utu, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 77% cheaper than Mata Utu, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Mata Utu is 309% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.99 MX$210

$11.55 CFPF 1,202

3.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$733

$118 CFPF 12.2K

-64.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.75 MX$189

Cappuccino

$3.50 MX$61.3

$8.14 CFPF 847

-57.00%

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

$1.45 MX$25.41

$5.76 CFPF 600

-74.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 MX$15.52

$3.57 CFPF 371

-75.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 MX$79.1

$5.96 CFPF 620

-24.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$25.12

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$32.23

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$27.51

Eggs

$2.51 MX$44.06

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.28 MX$145

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$148

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.68 MX$187

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 MX$45.76

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MX$25.22

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$34.41

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$36.74

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 MX$32.47

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$38.02

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 MX$18.09

$11.46 CFPF 1,192

-91.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.84

$4.59 CFPF 477

-76.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MX$72.0

$17.13 CFPF 1,782

-76.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 MX$178

$17.05 CFPF 1,774

-40.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$29.38

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$44.31

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.93

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$457

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.7

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.41 MX$42.19

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$23.17

$1.91 CFPF 199

-30.89%

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

$29.7K MX$520.9K

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

$23.7K MX$415.0K

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

$82.0 MX$1,439

$151 CFPF 15.7K

-45.57%

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

$22.95 MX$403

$116 CFPF 12.1K

-80.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.11 MX$528

$3,445 CFPF 358.5K

-99.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$912

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$325

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MX$87.3

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

$197 MX$3,463

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$93.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.60 MX$624

$235 CFPF 24.4K

-84.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$707

$91.3 CFPF 9,504

-55.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,381

$229 CFPF 23.9K

-65.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,560

$288 CFPF 29.9K

-69.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 MX$16.6K

$926 CFPF 96.3K

2.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,314

$909 CFPF 94.6K

-47.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 MX$28.8K

$2,325 CFPF 241.9K

-29.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 MX$21.2K

$2,320 CFPF 241.4K

-47.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$71.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$113.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 MX$11.5K

$3,468 CFPF 360.9K

-81.15%

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 13, 2026

Last update for Mata Utu: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $926 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 430% 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 $118 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: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, $5,462 in Mata Utu – roughly 335% apart. Mata Utu costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $8,192 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 $118 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 $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $5,462 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 $1,256, than in Mata Utu at $5,462. 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 $1,256 in Playa del Carmen to $5,462 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.