🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,649 in Mullingar.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,758 in Mullingar.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,868 in Mullingar.
🙂Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 51% less than in Mullingar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 3% below, Mullingar is 98% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Mullingar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$20.73€17.83
-43.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$720
$95.0€81.7
-56.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$11.60€9.98
-8.28%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$60.9
$4.71€4.05
-25.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.12
$2.81€2.41
-46.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.84
$2.15€1.85
-54.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.0
$6.85€5.90
-56.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.0
$6.77€5.82
-34.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Mullingar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.93
$1.60€1.38
-13.75%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.72
$2.04€1.75
-7.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.32
$2.27€1.95
-27.75%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.34
$4.22€3.63
-40.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$12.01€10.33
-30.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$12.47€10.72
-33.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$186
$14.97€12.88
-28.32%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.04
$3.30€2.84
-21.21%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.20
$3.15€2.71
-53.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.87
$3.65€3.14
-47.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.91
$5.58€4.80
-62.72%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.71
$2.77€2.38
-35.74%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.80
$2.19€1.89
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$17.99
$1.63€1.40
-36.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.62
$2.15€1.85
-49.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.6
$17.06€14.67
-76.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$178
$12.70€10.92
-18.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.61
$3.70€3.18
-53.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.54
$3.81€3.28
-32.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Mullingar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.81
$2.47€2.12
-79.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$458
$96.9€83.3
-72.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.4
$4.75€4.08
-31.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.09
$2.79€2.40
-10.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.2
$34.83€29.96
-90.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.61
$2.06€1.77
-36.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$523.7K
$43.1K€37.1K
-29.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$405.3K
$39.5K€34.0K
-40.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Mullingar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,433
$92.1€79.3
-10.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$384
$22.10€19.01
0.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$507
$40.72€35.03
-27.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Mullingar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$893
$46.47€39.98
11.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
$11.55€9.94
58.61%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.6
$13.90€11.96
-63.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Mullingar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,473
$1,357€1,167
-85.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.1K
$7,382€6,350
-29.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Mullingar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$639
$103€88.3
-64.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$688
$49.60€42.67
-19.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,357
$99.8€85.9
-21.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,506
$114€98.3
-23.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Mullingar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.8K
$1,751€1,506
-44.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,090
$1,395€1,200
-66.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$2,129€1,831
-22.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.1K
$1,979€1,703
-38.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.3K
$4,062€3,494
-2.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.4K
$4,028€3,465
61.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Mullingar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
$2,722€2,342
-75.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
4.6
148.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Last update for Mullingar: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $1,751 in Mullingar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mullingar pays 310% 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: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $95.0 in Mullingar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $380 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 Mullingar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Mullingar?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 104% lower than in Mullingar. 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 Mullingar?
On paper, Mullingar earns 310% less. 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 vs Mullingar?
Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,751 in Mullingar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Playa del Carmen vs Mullingar?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 266% less than in Mullingar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and Mullingar?
Childcare runs $201 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,357 in Mullingar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or Mullingar?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,649 in Mullingar, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Mullingar. 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 Mullingar?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,297 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 104% less than in Mullingar. 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