😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,215 in Playa del Carmen versus $592 in Minna.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,144 in Playa del Carmen versus $927 in Minna.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,072 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,263 in Minna.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 105% more expensive than in Minna, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen9% lower, Minna56% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Minna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.97MX$197
$2.06₦2,726
432.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.85MX$806
$25.33₦33.5K
77.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.92MX$214
$3.98₦5,276
199.50%
Cappuccino
$3.80MX$68.4
$3.45₦4,564
10.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31MX$23.57
$0.48₦630
172.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86MX$15.39
$0.67₦886
28.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21MX$57.7
$0.97₦1,288
230.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.01MX$90.1
$2.08₦2,756
140.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Minna
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.46MX$26.20
$3.57₦4,732
-59.10%
White Bread(500g)
$2.33MX$41.81
$1.29₦1,702
80.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.92
$0.72₦959
100.00%
Eggs
$2.46MX$44.23
$1.88₦2,495
30.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.70MX$138
$11.21₦14.8K
-31.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.89MX$142
$5.17₦6,840
52.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.80MX$230
$6.08₦8,056
110.53%
Apples(1kg)
$2.92MX$52.4
$2.07₦2,739
41.06%
Banana(1kg)
$1.42MX$25.55
$1.51₦2,003
-5.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.57MX$46.10
$1.49₦1,968
72.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.14MX$38.41
$2.27₦3,010
-5.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.95MX$34.99
$1.80₦2,381
8.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.94MX$34.79
$2.42₦3,200
-19.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.15MX$20.68
$0.60₦791
91.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22MX$21.94
$0.38₦502
221.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38MX$78.6
$2.04₦2,695
114.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.85MX$177
$5.92₦7,836
66.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54MX$27.63
$1.19₦1,582
29.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72MX$48.80
$1.78₦2,360
52.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Minna
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.43
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.42MX$493
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.91MX$88.3
$0.58₦770
746.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.52MX$63.3
$0.81₦1,076
334.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.69MX$102
$1.92₦2,537
196.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$27.67
$0.54₦720
185.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2KMX$381.7K
$26.4K₦35.0M
-19.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5KMX$440.0K
$18.5K₦24.5M
32.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Minna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.6MX$1,502
$112₦148.2K
-25.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.03MX$432
$6.34₦8,392
279.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.33MX$527
$29.51₦39.1K
-0.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Minna
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$64.9MX$1,166
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.46MX$529
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.09MX$91.4
$5.02₦6,644
1.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Minna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$208MX$3,732
$45.37₦60.1K
357.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,045MX$72.7K
$3,218₦4.3M
25.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Minna
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.55MX$801
$26.01₦34.4K
71.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06MX$756
$60.5₦80.1K
-30.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.5MX$1,357
$79.3₦105.0K
-4.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4MX$1,642
$108₦143.4K
-15.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Minna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$986MX$17.7K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$385MX$6,921
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,713MX$30.8K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,108MX$19.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,016MX$72.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,247MX$112.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Minna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
22.5
-49.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 4, 2026
Last update for Minna: October 4, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $25.00 in Minna for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $260 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 105% 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 $1,823 in Playa del Carmen and $888 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 23% 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 $1,215 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $592 in Minna – a 105% 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 $592 in Minna versus $1,215 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 $592 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 105% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared