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 $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,965 in Moncton, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,944 in Moncton, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,923 in Moncton, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 36% cheaper than Moncton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Moncton is 47% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Moncton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$210
$18.23 CA$25.56
-34.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78 MX$731
$66.9 CA$93.8
-37.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.75 MX$188
$10.93 CA$15.32
-1.65%
Cappuccino
$3.50 MX$61.1
$3.31 CA$4.63
5.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$25.33
$1.93 CA$2.70
-24.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 MX$15.47
$1.77 CA$2.49
-50.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.6
$3.63 CA$5.09
-18.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51 MX$78.9
$4.35 CA$6.10
3.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Moncton
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$25.04
$2.65 CA$3.72
-46.04%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 MX$32.13
$3.10 CA$4.34
-40.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$27.42
$3.52 CA$4.94
-55.40%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.92
$3.71 CA$5.20
-32.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.28 MX$145
$12.60 CA$17.66
-34.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.43 MX$147
$11.38 CA$15.96
-25.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.68 MX$187
$10.55 CA$14.80
1.23%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 MX$45.62
$5.31 CA$7.44
-50.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MX$25.15
$1.48 CA$2.07
-2.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 MX$34.31
$3.93 CA$5.50
-50.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$36.62
$4.15 CA$5.81
-49.64%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 MX$32.37
$2.32 CA$3.26
-20.26%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.90
$2.56 CA$3.59
-15.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 MX$18.04
$2.41 CA$3.38
-57.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$18.78
$2.18 CA$3.06
-50.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10 MX$71.7
$13.35 CA$18.71
-69.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.17 MX$178
$14.23 CA$19.95
-28.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$29.29
$2.66 CA$3.73
-36.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 MX$44.17
$4.23 CA$5.93
-40.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Moncton
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.90
$2.27 CA$3.18
-77.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.04 MX$455
$52.5 CA$73.6
-50.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.5
$2.99 CA$4.20
8.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.41 MX$42.06
$1.30 CA$1.83
85.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.5
$22.00 CA$30.84
-85.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 MX$23.10
$1.19 CA$1.67
10.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K MX$519.2K
$25.1K CA$35.1K
18.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K MX$413.7K
$20.1K CA$28.2K
17.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Moncton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,434
$126 CA$176
-34.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95 MX$401
$38.39 CA$53.8
-40.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11 MX$527
$61.9 CA$86.8
-51.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Moncton
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 MX$909
$37.19 CA$52.1
39.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53 MX$324
$6.62 CA$9.28
179.91%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98 MX$87.0
$12.12 CA$17.00
-58.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Moncton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,452
$393 CA$551
-49.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,336 MX$93.3K
$7,283 CA$10.2K
-26.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Moncton
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60 MX$622
$52.4 CA$73.5
-32.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33 MX$705
$39.19 CA$55.0
2.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.8 MX$1,377
$105 CA$148
-25.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,555
$149 CA$209
-40.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Moncton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$947 MX$16.6K
$1,049 CA$1,471
-9.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,288
$827 CA$1,159
-42.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,644 MX$28.7K
$1,650 CA$2,313
-0.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,211 MX$21.2K
$1,292 CA$1,811
-6.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,056 MX$70.9K
$2,241 CA$3,142
81.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,470 MX$113.1K
$2,099 CA$2,942
208.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Moncton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 MX$11.4K
$2,430 CA$3,407
-73.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.57
73.82%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Last update for Moncton: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,049 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 272% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $67.0 in Moncton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $383 – 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: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, $1,965 in Moncton – roughly 56% 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 $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,947 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen and $67.0 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 $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $1,965 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 $1,256, than in Moncton at $1,965. 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 $1,256 in Playa del Carmen to $1,965 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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