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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,256 in Playa del Carmen versus $67.5 in Navua.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,137 in Playa del Carmen versus $110 in Navua.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,017 in Playa del Carmen versus $152 in Navua.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 1760% more expensive than in Navua, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Navua 95% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.99 MX$209

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$728

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.75 MX$187

$6.51 FJD 14.56

65.13%

Cappuccino

$3.50 MX$60.9

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 MX$25.22

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 MX$15.41

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 MX$78.6

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.94

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$31.99

$0.59 FJD 1.31

211.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$27.31

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.74

$2.97 FJD 6.64

-15.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.28 MX$144

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$147

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.68 MX$186

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 MX$45.43

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MX$25.04

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$34.16

$4.96 FJD 11.10

-60.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$36.47

$1.41 FJD 3.16

48.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 MX$32.24

$0.89 FJD 1.99

107.87%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.74

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 MX$17.96

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.70

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MX$71.4

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 MX$177

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$29.17

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$43.98

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.87

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$453

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.3

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.41 MX$41.88

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$23.00

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.7K MX$517.1K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.7K MX$412.0K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.0 MX$1,428

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.95 MX$400

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.11 MX$524

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$905

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$323

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MX$86.6

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$197 MX$3,438

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$92.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.60 MX$620

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$702

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,371

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,549

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 MX$16.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,254

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 MX$28.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 MX$21.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$70.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$112.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 MX$11.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

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 Navua: July 12, 2026

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 Navua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen and Navua differ by about 1760% in total monthly costs ($1,256 vs $67.5 including rent). Navua is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,884 in Playa del Carmen and $101 in Navua to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 426% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $67.5 in Navua – a 1760% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $67.5 in Navua versus $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Navua but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Navua the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Navua are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Navua gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1760% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.