🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,001 in Morden, MB.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,279 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,748 in Morden, MB.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,292 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,495 in Morden, MB.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 37% less than in Morden, MB, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 7% below, Morden, MB is 46% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Morden, MB
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$14.44CA$20.19
-19.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$812
$62.4CA$87.3
-24.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$10.90CA$15.25
8.99%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.6
$3.64CA$5.09
9.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.60
$2.22CA$3.11
-35.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.22
$1.90CA$2.66
-56.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$55.0
$5.66CA$7.92
-43.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$6.39CA$8.94
6.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Morden, MB
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.89
$1.39CA$1.94
20.86%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.88
$2.41CA$3.37
-8.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.45
$2.56CA$3.59
-33.20%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.26
$3.40CA$4.76
-19.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
$9.96CA$13.93
-3.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$11.03CA$15.42
-18.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
$17.37CA$24.30
-26.25%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.81
$3.97CA$5.55
-27.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.81
$0.60CA$0.84
150.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.03
$3.45CA$4.83
-37.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.96
$3.42CA$4.79
-33.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.15
$2.58CA$3.61
-23.26%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.30
$2.65CA$3.71
-24.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.28
$2.46CA$3.44
-50.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.63
$1.54CA$2.15
-22.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.5
$16.32CA$22.83
-72.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
$12.00CA$16.79
-13.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.91
$2.91CA$4.07
-44.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.67
$3.87CA$5.41
-25.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Morden, MB
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.35
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$497
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.9
$2.81CA$3.93
91.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.3
$1.33CA$1.87
180.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.5
$24.36CA$34.08
-76.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.48
$1.12CA$1.57
37.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.8K
$28.4KCA$39.7K
-20.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$449.3K
$20.4KCA$28.5K
27.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Morden, MB
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,576
$167CA$233
-45.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$435
$39.31CA$55.0
-35.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$539
$54.6CA$76.3
-42.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Morden, MB
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,159
$42.90CA$60.0
56.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$502
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.8
$11.47CA$16.05
-57.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Morden, MB
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,856
$289CA$405
-22.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.9K
$19.0KCA$26.6K
-77.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Morden, MB
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$812
$43.85CA$61.3
7.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$764
$45.99CA$64.3
-3.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,381
$72.0CA$101
11.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,598
$100CA$140
-7.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Morden, MB
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
$873CA$1,222
21.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,728
$939CA$1,314
-58.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.1K
$1,200CA$1,679
79.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
$1,156CA$1,617
10.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$69.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$112.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Morden, MB
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.1K
$2,702CA$3,780
-71.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
4.47
156.15%
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 Morden, MB: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen and $873 in Morden, MB. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Morden, MB pays 256% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $62.0 in Morden, MB for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $276 vs $341 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 Morden, MB: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Morden, MB?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 58% lower than in Morden, MB. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or in Morden, MB?
On paper, salaries run 256% lower in Morden, MB. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen compared to Morden, MB?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $873 in Morden, MB. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or in Morden, MB?
Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Morden, MB. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Morden, MB?
All in, you'll spend $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $2,001 in Morden, MB – a 58% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or in Morden, MB?
At $1,266 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,001 in Morden, MB, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Morden, MB. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Morden, MB?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,266 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Morden, MB?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Morden, MB 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Morden, MB. 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