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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,029 in Moncton, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,034 in Moncton, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,038 in Moncton, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 38% cheaper than Moncton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 7% below the global median, while Moncton is 48% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Moncton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60 MX$200
$18.85 CA$26.37
-38.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11 MX$812
$69.4 CA$97.1
-32.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.88 MX$205
$10.87 CA$15.21
9.29%
Cappuccino
$3.98 MX$68.6
$3.56 CA$4.98
11.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 MX$24.60
$2.00 CA$2.80
-28.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MX$14.22
$1.90 CA$2.66
-56.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 MX$55.0
$4.48 CA$6.26
-28.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79 MX$117
$5.80 CA$8.11
17.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Moncton
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 MX$28.89
$2.95 CA$4.12
-43.05%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$37.88
$2.75 CA$3.84
-20.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 MX$29.45
$3.55 CA$4.96
-51.83%
Eggs
$2.74 MX$47.26
$3.87 CA$5.41
-29.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.58 MX$165
$13.58 CA$18.99
-29.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.01 MX$155
$10.80 CA$15.10
-16.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.81 MX$221
$13.58 CA$19.00
-5.67%
Apples (1kg)
$2.89 MX$49.81
$5.75 CA$8.05
-49.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$25.81
$1.61 CA$2.25
-6.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 MX$37.03
$4.87 CA$6.81
-55.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.96
$5.99 CA$8.37
-62.27%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 MX$34.15
$2.02 CA$2.83
-1.98%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.30
$2.15 CA$3.01
-7.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.23 MX$21.28
$2.56 CA$3.59
-51.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$20.63
$2.13 CA$2.98
-43.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55 MX$78.5
$14.35 CA$20.07
-68.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.37 MX$179
$14.60 CA$20.42
-28.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.91
$3.46 CA$4.84
-53.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$49.67
$4.01 CA$5.62
-28.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Moncton
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MX$10.35
$2.21 CA$3.09
-72.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.80 MX$497
$51.0 CA$71.3
-43.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$92.9
$2.95 CA$4.12
82.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.73 MX$64.3
$1.40 CA$1.96
166.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.77 MX$99.5
$21.48 CA$30.06
-73.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$26.48
$1.16 CA$1.62
32.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K MX$388.8K
$28.1K CA$39.4K
-19.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K MX$449.3K
$19.3K CA$27.0K
35.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Moncton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.4 MX$1,576
$126 CA$176
-27.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20 MX$435
$42.64 CA$59.7
-40.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24 MX$539
$66.5 CA$93.0
-52.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Moncton
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 MX$1,159
$50.4 CA$70.5
33.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11 MX$502
$11.42 CA$15.98
154.90%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 MX$83.8
$12.87 CA$18.01
-62.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Moncton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$224 MX$3,856
$385 CA$538
-41.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,229 MX$72.9K
$13.5K CA$18.9K
-68.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Moncton
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10 MX$812
$60.9 CA$85.2
-22.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29 MX$764
$36.25 CA$50.7
22.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.1 MX$1,381
$105 CA$147
-23.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7 MX$1,598
$120 CA$168
-22.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Moncton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,063 MX$18.3K
$1,057 CA$1,478
0.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$390 MX$6,728
$821 CA$1,149
-52.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,149 MX$37.1K
$1,609 CA$2,251
33.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,272 MX$21.9K
$1,362 CA$1,905
-6.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,001 MX$69.0K
$2,203 CA$3,081
81.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,502 MX$112.1K
$2,091 CA$2,926
210.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Moncton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$758 MX$13.1K
$2,513 CA$3,516
-69.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
4.6
148.91%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Last update for Moncton: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,057 in Moncton. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 231% higher in Moncton, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $69.0 in Moncton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $411 – 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 Moncton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Playa del Carmen and in Moncton compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, $2,029 in Moncton – roughly 60% apart. Moncton costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Moncton?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,043 in Moncton. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Playa del Carmen and Moncton?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen and $69.0 in Moncton. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Moncton?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $2,029 in Moncton. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,266, than in Moncton at $2,029. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moncton it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Moncton?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,266 in Playa del Carmen to $2,029 in Moncton. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Playa del Carmen or Moncton safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Playa del Carmen and Moncton?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Moncton makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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