Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Mildura

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,202 a month against $2,360 in Mildura, rent and utilities included – about $13,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Mildura, Australia
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,202
/mo nomad
Mildura
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,360
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Mildura

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Mildura actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,202 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,360 in Mildura, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,202
  • Mildura $2,360

A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,616 in Mildura, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Mildura $3,616

A family of three spends $2,962 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,873 in Mildura, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,962
  • Mildura $4,873

Playa del Carmen is about 49% cheaper than Mildura, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Playa del Carmen sits 11% below the global median, while Mildura is 75% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Mildura
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.67 MX$199
$15.56 A$22.27
-31.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.80 MX$815
$106 A$152
-58.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.79 MX$219
$11.45 A$16.39
2.97%
Cappuccino
$3.79 MX$70.5
$3.47 A$4.96
9.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 MX$24.14
$2.77 A$3.96
-53.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 MX$15.51
$2.75 A$3.93
-69.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 MX$58.6
$6.35 A$9.09
-50.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$91.8
$6.83 A$9.78
-27.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Mildura
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.22
$2.06 A$2.95
-31.55%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$40.86
$2.77 A$3.97
-20.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.47 MX$27.40
$2.22 A$3.18
-33.78%
Eggs
$2.50 MX$46.46
$8.17 A$11.70
-69.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.29 MX$136
$9.15 A$13.10
-20.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.95 MX$148
$9.17 A$13.13
-13.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.86 MX$239
$14.79 A$21.17
-13.05%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 MX$53.9
$3.69 A$5.29
-21.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 MX$25.74
$3.09 A$4.42
-55.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.49 MX$46.35
$3.33 A$4.77
-25.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 MX$37.77
$4.56 A$6.53
-55.48%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$37.68
$2.45 A$3.51
-17.55%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 MX$35.42
$2.49 A$3.56
-23.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 MX$21.30
$2.43 A$3.48
-53.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 MX$23.05
$1.60 A$2.29
-22.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$79.5
$41.74 A$59.8
-89.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.81 MX$183
$14.14 A$20.25
-30.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 MX$29.51
$4.60 A$6.58
-65.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 MX$51.1
$5.12 A$7.32
-46.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Mildura
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$9.58
$2.80 A$4.01
-81.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.39 MX$510
$83.4 A$119
-67.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.76 MX$88.6
$3.55 A$5.08
34.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.25 MX$60.5
$1.62 A$2.32
100.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$100
$40.94 A$58.6
-86.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 MX$28.44
$1.36 A$1.95
12.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$394.8K
$29.5K A$42.3K
-28.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$432.9K
$26.8K A$38.4K
-13.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Mildura
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.5 MX$1,554
$206 A$294
-59.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.19 MX$431
$28.26 A$40.45
-17.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.61 MX$514
$56.2 A$80.4
-50.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Mildura
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.4 MX$1,050
$55.8 A$79.9
1.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.19 MX$525
$17.43 A$24.95
61.73%
Cinema Ticket
$5.00 MX$93.1
$14.01 A$20.05
-64.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Mildura
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,854
$2,141 A$3,065
-90.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,231 MX$97.3K
$20.0K A$28.7K
-73.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Mildura
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.45 MX$809
$77.4 A$111
-43.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.54 MX$792
$53.6 A$76.8
-20.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.8 MX$1,354
$108 A$155
-32.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 MX$1,645
$122 A$175
-27.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Mildura
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$995 MX$18.5K
$1,401 A$2,005
-28.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$382 MX$7,116
$1,066 A$1,526
-64.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,674 MX$31.2K
$2,247 A$3,216
-25.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,081 MX$20.1K
$1,848 A$2,645
-41.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,909 MX$72.7K
$5,923 A$8,479
-34.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,138 MX$114.2K
$4,914 A$7,034
24.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Mildura
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$832 MX$15.5K
$3,472 A$4,971
-76.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
5.9
94.07%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: November 2, 2026

Last update for Mildura: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$382
Mildura
$1.1K 179% $683
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$257
Mildura
$383 48.9% $126
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$200
Mildura
$268 33.8% $68
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$134
Mildura
$290 116% $156
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$111
Mildura
$163 46.1% $51
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$66
Mildura
$84 26.1% $17
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Mildura
$106 111% $56

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $995 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,401 in Mildura. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Mildura are about 4.2 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44 in Playa del Carmen versus $106 in Mildura. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $257 vs $383 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇦🇺 Mildura
🕒 Local time
07:38 7:38 AM
23:38 11:38 PM
16 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
34,565
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

AUD, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 18.61 MXN (100 MXN = 5.37 USD). 1 EUR = 20.83 MXN (100 MXN = 4.8 EUR).

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD (1 AUD = 0.699 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 AUD (1 AUD = 0.624 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Mildura 14,980 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Mildura

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Mildura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Mildura?
Yes – Mildura is pricier by about 96%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,804 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,540 in Mildura. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $995 there versus $1,401 in Mildura.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 67% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $207 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,141 in Mildura. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Mildura?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,202, than in Mildura at $2,360. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mildura it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Mildura more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – 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 Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mildura makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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