Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Mugla

For one person, living is cheaper in Mugla: $920 a month against $1,210 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $3,500 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,210
/mo nomad
Mugla
🇹🇷 Turkey
$920
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Mugla

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Mugla actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,210 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $920 in Mugla, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,210
  • Mugla $920

A couple spends around $2,113 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,424 in Mugla, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,113
  • Mugla $1,424

A family of three spends $3,016 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,928 in Mugla, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $3,016
  • Mugla $1,928

Playa del Carmen costs about 32% more than Mugla, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both Playa del Carmen and Mugla are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 10% lower, Mugla 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Mugla
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.76 MX$199
$6.51 ₺322
65.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.03 MX$795
$36.60 ₺1,812
17.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.79 MX$218
$7.46 ₺369
58.04%
Cappuccino
$3.87 MX$71.4
$4.08 ₺202
-5.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 MX$25.29
$1.83 ₺90.5
-25.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 MX$15.44
$0.51 ₺25.44
64.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.10 MX$57.3
$3.09 ₺153
0.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.07 MX$93.6
$3.69 ₺183
37.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Mugla
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$26.55
$1.02 ₺50.7
41.18%
White Bread (500g)
$2.23 MX$41.23
$1.01 ₺49.94
120.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.47 MX$27.17
$1.93 ₺95.4
-23.83%
Eggs
$2.53 MX$46.71
$2.51 ₺125
0.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.30 MX$135
$9.05 ₺448
-19.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.86 MX$145
$4.26 ₺211
84.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.79 MX$236
$19.51 ₺966
-34.44%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 MX$53.6
$1.75 ₺86.9
65.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MX$26.53
$1.84 ₺91.2
-21.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 MX$47.07
$0.97 ₺47.85
162.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.06 MX$38.03
$1.49 ₺73.8
38.26%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 MX$36.97
$0.42 ₺20.58
376.19%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 MX$37.07
$0.33 ₺16.56
509.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 MX$22.02
$0.75 ₺36.96
58.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 MX$23.23
$0.69 ₺34.38
82.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.40 MX$81.4
$2.30 ₺114
91.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.59 MX$177
$9.36 ₺464
2.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 MX$29.41
$2.10 ₺104
-24.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 MX$51.9
$2.14 ₺106
31.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Mugla
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 MX$10.47
$1.26 ₺62.4
-54.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.82 MX$514
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.98 MX$92.1
$1.02 ₺50.5
388.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.50 MX$64.6
$0.78 ₺38.38
348.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.40 MX$99.8
$7.87 ₺390
-31.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 MX$27.08
$1.41 ₺69.7
4.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K MX$387.8K
$42.3K ₺2.1M
-50.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9K MX$441.8K
$39.7K ₺2.0M
-39.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Mugla
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.2 MX$1,556
$72.5 ₺3,590
16.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.99 MX$443
$11.74 ₺581
104.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.02 MX$536
$15.53 ₺769
86.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Mugla
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$63.0 MX$1,164
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.14 MX$539
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.94 MX$91.3
$6.91 ₺342
-28.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Mugla
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$204 MX$3,763
$698 ₺34.6K
-70.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,941 MX$72.8K
$17.8K ₺882.5K
-77.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Mugla
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.60 MX$806
$45.95 ₺2,275
-5.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.12 MX$797
$32.61 ₺1,614
32.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.8 MX$1,400
$90.4 ₺4,477
-16.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.6 MX$1,637
$78.1 ₺3,864
13.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Mugla
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,008 MX$18.6K
$411 ₺20.3K
145.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$374 MX$6,911
$307 ₺15.2K
22.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 MX$31.6K
$796 ₺39.4K
114.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,106 MX$20.4K
$514 ₺25.5K
115.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,944 MX$72.9K
$1,394 ₺69.0K
182.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,169 MX$114.0K
$824 ₺40.8K
648.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Mugla
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$754 MX$13.9K
$1,527 ₺75.6K
-50.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
38
-69.87%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 10, 2026

Last update for Mugla: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$374
Mugla
$307 18% $67
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$258
Mugla
$223 13.7% $35
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$202
Mugla
$156 23.1% $47
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Mugla
$100 27.3% $37
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$113
Mugla
$111 1.6% $1.8
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$73
Mugla
$14 * 81% $59
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$53
Mugla
$9.9 * 81.1% $43

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,008 in Playa del Carmen versus $411 in Mugla. 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 103% higher in Mugla, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $37.00 in Mugla. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $258 vs $223 – making Mugla the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇹🇷 Mugla
🕒 Local time
07:39 7:39 AM
15:39 3:39 PM
8 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
82,717
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 49.51 TRY (100 TRY = 2.02 USD). 1 EUR = 55.66 TRY (100 TRY = 1.8 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Mugla 10,690 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Mugla

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Mugla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Mugla?
Playa del Carmen costs about 32% more than Mugla, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from leisure. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen and in Mugla?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,816 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,380 in Mugla. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Mugla?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mugla, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Mugla?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,210 in Playa del Carmen and $920 in Mugla. That's a gap of about 32%.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Mugla?
Kindergarten costs $204 per month in Playa del Carmen and $698 in Mugla. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or in Mugla?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mugla, where all-in costs run around $920, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,210. In Mugla it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Mugla?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mugla costs $920 versus $1,210 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Mugla?
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.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or to Mugla?
If budget matters most, go with Mugla. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?