😐A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $845 in Metn, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,336 in Metn, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,827 in Metn, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 53% more than Metn, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Metn are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen3% lower, Metn37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Metn
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$11.02LBP 986.1K
6.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$720
$60.8LBP 5.4M
-31.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$8.10LBP 725.3K
31.36%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$60.9
$3.42LBP 305.9K
2.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.12
$1.58LBP 141.3K
-4.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.84
$0.94LBP 84.0K
3.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.0
$3.44LBP 307.8K
-14.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.0
$4.97LBP 445.2K
-10.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Metn
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.93
$1.80LBP 160.9K
-23.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.72
$0.78LBP 70.2K
142.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.32
$1.01LBP 90.5K
62.38%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.34
$1.38LBP 123.5K
81.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$6.09LBP 544.8K
36.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$6.33LBP 566.8K
31.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$186
$11.52LBP 1.0M
-6.86%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.04
$1.79LBP 160.0K
45.25%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.20
$1.53LBP 136.5K
-4.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.87
$1.09LBP 97.3K
74.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.91
$1.09LBP 97.6K
90.83%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.71
$0.93LBP 83.6K
91.40%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.80
$0.99LBP 88.9K
121.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$17.99
$0.83LBP 74.7K
25.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.62
$0.48LBP 42.5K
125.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.6
$1.53LBP 136.7K
166.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$178
$10.15LBP 908.5K
1.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.61
$0.74LBP 66.4K
131.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.54
$1.01LBP 90.7K
155.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Metn
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.81
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$458
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.4
$5.07LBP 454.1K
-35.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.09
$1.26LBP 113.2K
97.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.2
$19.69LBP 1.8M
-83.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.61
$0.94LBP 84.5K
39.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$523.7K
$34.8KLBP 3.1B
-12.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$405.3K
$28.0KLBP 2.5B
-16.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Metn
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,433
$212LBP 19.0M
-61.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$384
$37.24LBP 3.3M
-40.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$507
$36.87LBP 3.3M
-20.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Metn
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$893
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.6
$8.02LBP 717.4K
-36.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Metn
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,473
$308LBP 27.5M
-34.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.1K
$4,443LBP 397.7M
17.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Metn
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$639
$70.5LBP 6.3M
-47.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$688
$45.53LBP 4.1M
-12.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,357
$121LBP 10.9M
-35.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,506
$93.5LBP 8.4M
-6.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Metn
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.8K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,090
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$509LBP 45.5M
222.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Metn
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
11.16
2.33%
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 Metn: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $61.0 in Metn. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Playa del Carmen vs $188 in Metn – so Metn 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 Metn: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Metn cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 53%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,267 in Metn. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or Metn?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen and $61.0 in Metn. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Metn?
Groceries cost about 33% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Metn?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Metn, where all-in costs run around $845, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Metn it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Metn more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Metn – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Metn. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared