😐A single person spends $1,293 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,199 in Nagano, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,906 in Nagano, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,374 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,614 in Nagano, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 8% more than Nagano, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Nagano are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen6% lower, Nagano13% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Nagano
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.71MX$198
$6.16¥962
90.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.59MX$787
$43.16¥6,742
7.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65MX$197
$5.08¥794
129.33%
Cappuccino
$4.09MX$69.2
$3.49¥546
17.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37MX$23.23
$1.04¥162
31.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83MX$14.09
$0.77¥121
7.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.35MX$56.7
$2.44¥381
37.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91MX$117
$3.20¥500
115.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Nagano
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73MX$29.19
$1.42¥222
21.83%
White Bread(500g)
$2.26MX$38.20
$1.71¥267
32.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$29.90
$3.68¥574
-51.90%
Eggs
$2.73MX$46.18
$2.05¥319
33.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.18MX$155
$11.57¥1,808
-20.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.92MX$151
$5.91¥923
50.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.60MX$213
$14.01¥2,189
-10.06%
Apples(1kg)
$3.02MX$51.1
$5.47¥854
-44.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57MX$26.54
$2.80¥438
-43.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13MX$35.92
$2.80¥437
-23.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.27
$4.27¥668
-47.07%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00MX$33.87
$2.48¥388
-19.35%
Onion(1kg)
$2.06MX$34.89
$2.56¥399
-19.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18MX$19.94
$1.22¥190
-3.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.35
$0.75¥117
60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.63MX$78.3
$3.69¥577
25.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.69MX$181
$6.41¥1,001
66.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.37
$1.72¥269
-5.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$48.69
$1.99¥311
44.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Nagano
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.57MX$9.69
$1.33¥208
-57.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.83MX$504
$47.96¥7,492
-37.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$92.1
$3.11¥486
75.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.70MX$62.6
$2.52¥394
46.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.98MX$101
$20.73¥3,239
-71.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.25
$1.10¥171
40.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3KMX$377.3K
$20.8K¥3.3M
7.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9KMX$438.5K
$18.4K¥2.9M
41.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Nagano
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.1MX$1,506
$128¥20.0K
-30.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.04MX$423
$23.65¥3,694
5.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.50MX$532
$12.62¥1,972
149.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Nagano
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.8MX$1,145
$51.2¥8,000
32.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.92MX$489
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.05MX$85.3
$12.43¥1,942
-59.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Nagano
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$225MX$3,802
$634¥99.0K
-64.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,222MX$71.4K
$14.3K¥2.2M
-70.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Nagano
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.44MX$802
$61.7¥9,635
-23.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98MX$760
$31.70¥4,951
41.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.0MX$1,386
$61.3¥9,573
33.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1MX$1,556
$102¥15.9K
-9.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Nagano
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,069MX$18.1K
$454¥71.0K
135.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$405MX$6,850
$356¥55.7K
13.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,935MX$32.7K
$1,092¥170.5K
77.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,301MX$22.0K
$720¥112.5K
80.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,995MX$67.5K
$4,178¥652.6K
-4.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,626MX$112.0K
$1,778¥277.7K
272.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Nagano
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$749MX$12.7K
$616¥96.2K
21.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
2.12
440.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Last update for Nagano: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $454 in Nagano. 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 22% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $43.00 in Nagano. Groceries tell a different story – $277 in Playa del Carmen vs $289 in Nagano – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Nagano: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Nagano?
Playa del Carmen costs about 8% more than Nagano, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 Nagano?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,940 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,798 in Nagano. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Playa del Carmen or Nagano?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nagano, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Nagano?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen and $43.00 in Nagano. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Playa del Carmen compared to Nagano?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,293 in Playa del Carmen and $1,199 in Nagano. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or in Nagano?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Nagano, where all-in costs run around $1,199, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. In Nagano 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 Nagano?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nagano costs $1,199 versus $1,293 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or to Nagano?
If budget matters most, go with Nagano. 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