😐A single person spends $1,293 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $878 in Mixco, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,425 in Mixco, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,374 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,971 in Mixco, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 47% more than Mixco, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Mixco are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen6% lower, Mixco36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Mixco
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.71MX$198
$8.96Q 68.3
30.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.59MX$788
$53.0Q 404
-12.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65MX$197
$9.23Q 70.4
26.22%
Cappuccino
$4.09MX$69.2
$4.12Q 31.45
-0.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37MX$23.23
$2.23Q 17.03
-38.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83MX$14.09
$1.50Q 11.45
-44.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.35MX$56.7
$3.82Q 29.17
-12.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91MX$117
$5.91Q 45.08
16.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Mixco
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73MX$29.20
$2.18Q 16.62
-20.64%
White Bread(500g)
$2.26MX$38.21
$4.93Q 37.64
-54.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$29.91
$1.58Q 12.03
12.03%
Eggs
$2.73MX$46.19
$2.60Q 19.83
5.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.18MX$155
$5.54Q 42.30
65.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.92MX$151
$15.58Q 119
-42.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.60MX$213
$10.48Q 79.9
20.23%
Apples(1kg)
$3.02MX$51.1
$4.34Q 33.12
-30.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57MX$26.55
$2.04Q 15.60
-23.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13MX$35.93
$5.19Q 39.57
-58.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.28
$1.67Q 12.72
35.33%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00MX$33.88
$1.94Q 14.79
3.09%
Onion(1kg)
$2.06MX$34.90
$1.71Q 13.05
20.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18MX$19.94
$1.29Q 9.85
-8.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.35
$1.32Q 10.10
-9.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.63MX$78.4
$3.89Q 29.67
19.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.69MX$181
$9.10Q 69.4
17.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.38
$3.16Q 24.14
-48.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$48.70
$4.29Q 32.72
-32.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Mixco
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.57MX$9.69
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.83MX$504
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$92.1
$4.65Q 35.51
17.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.70MX$62.6
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.98MX$101
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.26
$1.16Q 8.83
33.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3KMX$377.4K
$23.1KQ 176.4K
-3.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9KMX$438.7K
$21.6KQ 164.5K
20.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Mixco
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.1MX$1,507
$63.5Q 484
40.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.04MX$423
$39.40Q 301
-36.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.50MX$532
$68.8Q 525
-54.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Mixco
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.8MX$1,146
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.92MX$489
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.05MX$85.4
$8.73Q 66.6
-42.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Mixco
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$225MX$3,803
$545Q 4,155
-58.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,222MX$71.4K
$13.9KQ 106.2K
-69.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Mixco
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.44MX$802
$44.53Q 340
6.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98MX$760
$53.3Q 406
-15.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.0MX$1,386
$90.5Q 690
-9.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1MX$1,557
$87.6Q 668
5.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Mixco
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,069MX$18.1K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$405MX$6,852
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,935MX$32.7K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,301MX$22.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,995MX$67.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,626MX$112.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Mixco
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$749MX$12.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Last update for Mixco: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $53.0 in Mixco. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $350 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Mixco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mixco cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 47%, 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 $1,940 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,317 in Mixco. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Mixco?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,293 in Playa del Carmen and $878 in Mixco. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $225 per month in Playa del Carmen and $545 in Mixco. 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 Mixco?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mixco, where all-in costs run around $878, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. In Mixco it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Mixco more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mixco – 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 Mixco. 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