Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Mullingar Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Mullingar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,603 in Mullingar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,137 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,769 in Mullingar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,017 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,935 in Mullingar.

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 52% less than in Mullingar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 6% below, Mullingar is 95% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Mullingar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$210
$21.13 €18.46
-43.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78 MX$731
$96.5 €84.3
-56.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.75 MX$188
$11.60 €10.14
-7.33%
Cappuccino
$3.50 MX$61.1
$4.69 €4.10
-25.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$25.33
$2.85 €2.49
-49.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 MX$15.47
$2.22 €1.94
-60.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.6
$6.95 €6.07
-57.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51 MX$78.9
$6.79 €5.93
-33.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Mullingar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$25.04
$1.60 €1.40
-10.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 MX$32.13
$2.13 €1.86
-13.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$27.42
$2.24 €1.96
-29.91%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.92
$4.38 €3.83
-42.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.28 MX$145
$12.05 €10.53
-31.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.43 MX$147
$12.61 €11.01
-33.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.68 MX$187
$14.65 €12.80
-27.10%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 MX$45.62
$3.44 €3.00
-24.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MX$25.15
$3.23 €2.82
-55.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 MX$34.31
$3.67 €3.20
-46.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$36.62
$5.62 €4.91
-62.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 MX$32.37
$2.69 €2.35
-31.23%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.90
$2.17 €1.90
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 MX$18.04
$1.68 €1.46
-38.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$18.78
$2.11 €1.85
-49.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10 MX$71.7
$17.70 €15.46
-76.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.17 MX$178
$12.74 €11.13
-20.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$29.29
$3.76 €3.28
-55.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 MX$44.17
$3.83 €3.35
-33.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Mullingar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.90
$2.48 €2.17
-79.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.04 MX$455
$97.7 €85.4
-73.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.5
$4.79 €4.18
-32.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.41 MX$42.06
$2.69 €2.35
-10.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.5
$35.26 €30.81
-90.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 MX$23.10
$2.01 €1.76
-34.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K MX$519.2K
$42.8K €37.4K
-30.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K MX$413.7K
$40.5K €35.3K
-41.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Mullingar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,434
$92.1 €80.4
-10.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95 MX$401
$21.41 €18.71
7.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11 MX$527
$40.99 €35.81
-26.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Mullingar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 MX$909
$47.11 €41.16
10.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53 MX$324
$11.56 €10.10
60.29%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98 MX$87.0
$14.07 €12.29
-64.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Mullingar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,452
$1,321 €1,154
-85.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,336 MX$93.3K
$7,224 €6,311
-26.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Mullingar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60 MX$622
$105 €91.4
-65.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33 MX$705
$48.94 €42.76
-17.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.8 MX$1,377
$102 €89.2
-22.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,555
$114 €99.7
-22.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Mullingar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$947 MX$16.6K
$1,759 €1,537
-46.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,288
$1,403 €1,225
-66.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,644 MX$28.7K
$2,144 €1,873
-23.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,211 MX$21.2K
$1,944 €1,698
-37.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,056 MX$70.9K
$4,060 €3,547
-0.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,470 MX$113.1K
$3,799 €3,319
70.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Mullingar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 MX$11.4K
$2,619 €2,288
-75.04%
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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Mullingar: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $947 in Playa del Carmen and $1,759 in Mullingar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mullingar pays 301% 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 $96.0 in Mullingar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $383 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 107% 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 in Mullingar?
On paper, salaries run 301% lower in Mullingar. 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 Mullingar?
Rent for a central apartment: $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,759 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 compared to Mullingar?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 275% 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 in Mullingar?
Childcare runs $197 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,321 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 in Mullingar?
At $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,603 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 $1,256 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 107% less than in Mullingar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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