Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Minna Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Minna

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,330 in Playa del Carmen versus $559 in Minna.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,336 in Playa del Carmen versus $902 in Minna.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,341 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,245 in Minna.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 138% more expensive than in Minna, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Minna 59% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Minna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.02 MX$221
$2.13 ₦2,864
511.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.25 MX$784
$29.26 ₦39.4K
58.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.59 MX$213
$3.90 ₦5,253
222.82%
Cappuccino
$4.00 MX$67.9
$3.34 ₦4,503
19.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 MX$24.08
$0.54 ₦729
162.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 MX$13.73
$0.70 ₦946
15.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.05 MX$51.7
$1.03 ₦1,384
196.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.82 MX$116
$2.06 ₦2,774
231.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Minna
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 MX$29.04
$3.62 ₦4,876
-52.76%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$37.62
$1.29 ₦1,741
72.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 MX$29.13
$0.71 ₦951
142.25%
Eggs
$2.71 MX$45.99
$1.79 ₦2,415
51.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.37 MX$159
$11.06 ₦14.9K
-15.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.86 MX$150
$5.26 ₦7,079
68.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.78 MX$217
$6.04 ₦8,125
111.59%
Apples (1kg)
$3.13 MX$53.0
$2.06 ₦2,776
51.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 MX$26.24
$1.50 ₦2,024
3.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 MX$36.51
$1.48 ₦1,987
45.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.35 MX$39.89
$2.25 ₦3,033
4.44%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$34.23
$1.78 ₦2,396
13.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$33.67
$2.44 ₦3,285
-18.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.24 MX$21.09
$0.58 ₦785
113.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 MX$20.21
$0.39 ₦529
205.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.65 MX$78.8
$1.96 ₦2,637
137.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.47 MX$177
$5.79 ₦7,792
80.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$26.82
$1.23 ₦1,653
28.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 MX$49.48
$1.79 ₦2,411
63.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Minna
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.56 MX$9.53
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.76 MX$504
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.32 MX$90.2
$0.61 ₦816
772.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.72 MX$63.0
$0.85 ₦1,142
337.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.78 MX$97.9
$1.81 ₦2,438
219.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 MX$26.27
$0.55 ₦740
181.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4K MX$379.1K
$19.9K ₦26.8M
12.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K MX$433.3K
$18.1K ₦24.4M
41.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Minna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.3 MX$1,513
$112 ₦151.1K
-20.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.30 MX$395
$6.22 ₦8,374
274.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.72 MX$538
$29.57 ₦39.8K
7.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Minna
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.8 MX$1,165
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.40 MX$498
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.06 MX$85.7
$4.89 ₦6,581
3.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Minna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$222 MX$3,765
$44.85 ₦60.4K
395.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,293 MX$72.7K
$3,067 ₦4.1M
39.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Minna
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.21 MX$783
$25.28 ₦34.0K
82.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.43 MX$753
$47.41 ₦63.8K
-6.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.5 MX$1,618
$77.8 ₦104.7K
22.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.5 MX$1,568
$104 ₦139.4K
-10.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Minna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,069 MX$18.1K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$393 MX$6,663
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,988 MX$33.7K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,304 MX$22.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,037 MX$68.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,627 MX$112.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Minna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$747 MX$12.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.6
22.5
-48.44%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 18, 2026

Last update for Minna: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $46.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $29.00 in Minna for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $212 per month, with Minna cheaper across the board.

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 Minna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Minna?
Minna wins on cost – living expenses run 138% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Minna the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen and in Minna?
You'd need roughly $1,995 in Playa del Carmen and $839 in Minna to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or in Minna?
Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Minna?
All in, you'll spend $1,330 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $559 in Minna – a 138% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or in Minna?
At $559 in Minna versus $1,330 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Minna but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Minna the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Minna?
Both work as nomad bases, but Minna delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $559 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Minna hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Minna gentler on the wallet – expenses run 138% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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