Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Mont-Laurier Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Mont-Laurier

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,184 in Mont-Laurier.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,125 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,234 in Mont-Laurier.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,990 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,284 in Mont-Laurier.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 42% less than in Mont-Laurier, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 5% below, Mont-Laurier is 64% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Mont-Laurier
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72 MX$204
$15.98 CA$22.43
-26.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89 MX$731
$72.2 CA$101
-42.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 MX$183
$11.07 CA$15.53
-5.06%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.5
$3.74 CA$5.25
-4.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.31
$2.11 CA$2.96
-28.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 MX$15.96
$1.47 CA$2.06
-37.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.96 MX$51.6
$6.02 CA$8.45
-50.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41 MX$76.9
$6.82 CA$9.57
-35.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Mont-Laurier
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 MX$24.35
$2.32 CA$3.26
-39.66%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.87
$2.73 CA$3.83
-31.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 MX$27.19
$2.60 CA$3.65
-40.00%
Eggs
$2.61 MX$45.50
$3.45 CA$4.85
-24.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.32 MX$145
$6.26 CA$8.79
32.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.35 MX$146
$11.75 CA$16.50
-28.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 MX$189
$15.60 CA$21.89
-30.38%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 MX$47.31
$3.65 CA$5.12
-25.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$26.25
$1.57 CA$2.20
-3.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.67
$4.01 CA$5.63
-53.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$38.19
$3.40 CA$4.77
-35.59%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$32.40
$1.49 CA$2.09
24.83%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 MX$38.90
$1.11 CA$1.56
100.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.63
$2.08 CA$2.92
-48.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.94
$1.79 CA$2.52
-39.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MX$73.0
$10.55 CA$14.80
-60.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.43 MX$182
$6.23 CA$8.74
67.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 MX$28.91
$3.12 CA$4.38
-46.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$45.56
$3.52 CA$4.93
-25.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Mont-Laurier
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.45
$2.33 CA$3.26
-76.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.16 MX$456
$61.9 CA$86.9
-57.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 MX$53.7
$3.58 CA$5.02
-13.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$41.94
$1.46 CA$2.05
64.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$54.5
$34.51 CA$48.44
-90.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.87
$1.14 CA$1.60
14.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K MX$519.9K
$25.1K CA$35.2K
18.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$406.8K
$21.4K CA$30.0K
9.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Mont-Laurier
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 MX$1,418
$74.0 CA$104
9.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56 MX$393
$36.07 CA$50.6
-37.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05 MX$524
$43.93 CA$61.7
-31.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Mont-Laurier
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.9 MX$923
$41.09 CA$57.7
28.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 MX$321
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.92 MX$85.8
$11.20 CA$15.71
-56.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Mont-Laurier
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,502
$624 CA$876
-67.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,175 MX$90.2K
$5,952 CA$8,354
-13.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Mont-Laurier
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92 MX$627
$62.4 CA$87.6
-42.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13 MX$700
$44.77 CA$62.8
-10.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.7 MX$1,390
$104 CA$146
-23.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5 MX$1,508
$120 CA$169
-28.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Mont-Laurier
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$978 MX$17.1K
$1,325 CA$1,860
-26.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 MX$8,206
$1,172 CA$1,645
-59.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,651 MX$28.8K
$2,031 CA$2,851
-18.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,203 MX$21.0K
$1,783 CA$2,503
-32.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,953 MX$69.0K
$3,804 CA$5,339
3.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,607 MX$115.2K
$3,677 CA$5,162
79.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Mont-Laurier
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$677 MX$11.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
5.01
127.94%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Last update for Mont-Laurier: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $978 in Playa del Carmen and $1,325 in Mont-Laurier. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $72.0 in Mont-Laurier for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $331 per month, with Playa del Carmen 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 Mont-Laurier: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mont-Laurier cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Playa del Carmen is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 73% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,890 in Playa del Carmen and $3,276 in Mont-Laurier 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.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Mont-Laurier?
Rent for a central apartment: $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,325 in Mont-Laurier. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Mont-Laurier?
Supermarket bills run roughly 32% higher in Mont-Laurier. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or in Mont-Laurier?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $72.0 in Mont-Laurier. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Mont-Laurier?
At $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,184 in Mont-Laurier, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Mont-Laurier. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Mont-Laurier more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mont-Laurier, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Mont-Laurier?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Mont-Laurier are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 73% less than in Mont-Laurier. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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