๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,943 in Montรฉvrain.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,865 in Montรฉvrain.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,788 in Montรฉvrain.
๐Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 33% less than in Montรฉvrain, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 3% below, Montรฉvrain is 45% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Montรฉvrain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$205
$13.98โฌ12.13
-16.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$727
$53.1โฌ46.05
-21.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$186
$11.50โฌ9.98
-7.48%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$61.5
$3.52โฌ3.05
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.37
$2.38โฌ2.06
-36.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$17.00
$2.37โฌ2.06
-59.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.5
$5.91โฌ5.13
-50.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.8
$5.67โฌ4.92
-21.52%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Montรฉvrain
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$24.16
$1.64โฌ1.42
-15.85%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$33.04
$2.02โฌ1.75
-6.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.59
$2.99โฌ2.59
-45.15%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.76
$5.12โฌ4.44
-50.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$146
$25.29โฌ21.94
-67.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$146
$13.85โฌ12.01
-39.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$187
$19.88โฌ17.25
-46.03%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.48
$3.56โฌ3.09
-26.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.45
$2.39โฌ2.08
-38.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$33.19
$3.52โฌ3.06
-46.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.26
$3.77โฌ3.27
-44.83%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$31.01
$2.68โฌ2.33
-33.58%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$38.16
$3.01โฌ2.61
-27.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$18.16
$1.85โฌ1.60
-43.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.80
$0.90โฌ0.78
20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$71.3
$15.28โฌ13.26
-73.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$180
$9.50โฌ8.24
8.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.90
$2.84โฌ2.47
-39.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.98
$4.09โฌ3.55
-36.92%
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Montรฉvrain
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.90
$2.02โฌ1.76
-74.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$462
$48.03โฌ41.67
-44.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$57.0
$4.67โฌ4.05
-30.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.51
$2.00โฌ1.74
24.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.7
$55.3โฌ47.98
-94.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.83
$2.19โฌ1.90
-40.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$528.8K
$36.2Kโฌ31.4K
-16.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$409.2K
$36.1Kโฌ31.3K
-35.15%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Montรฉvrain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,447
$246โฌ213
-66.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$388
$17.16โฌ14.89
29.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$512
$36.62โฌ31.77
-19.88%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Montรฉvrain
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$902
$36.93โฌ32.04
39.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$320
$18.42โฌ15.98
-0.54%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$88.5
$12.50โฌ10.84
-59.44%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Montรฉvrain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,507
$871โฌ756
-76.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$91.0K
$8,518โฌ7,390
-38.81%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Montรฉvrain
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$645
$114โฌ98.6
-67.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$695
$48.26โฌ41.87
-17.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,370
$122โฌ106
-35.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,521
$159โฌ138
-45.34%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Montรฉvrain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$17.0K
$769โฌ667
26.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,169
$617โฌ535
-24.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.7K
$1,404โฌ1,218
16.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.3K
$1,087โฌ943
12.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.9K
$3,721โฌ3,229
6.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$113.5K
$2,744โฌ2,381
136.79%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Montรฉvrain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
3.55
221.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Last update for Montรฉvrain: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $769 in Montรฉvrain. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $53.0 in Montรฉvrain for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $412 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 Montรฉvrain: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Montรฉvrain 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 50% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,945 in Playa del Carmen and $2,914 in Montรฉvrain 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 Montรฉvrain?
Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $769 in Montรฉvrain. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Montรฉvrain?
All in, you'll spend $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,943 in Montรฉvrain โ a 50% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 82% less than in Montรฉvrain. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Montรฉvrain?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,943 in Montรฉvrain, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Montรฉvrain. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Montรฉvrain more family-friendly?
For families, Playa del Carmen is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Montรฉvrain, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Montรฉvrain?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Montรฉvrain 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 โ expenses run 50% less than in Montรฉvrain. 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