🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,624 in Nazare.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,361 in Nazare.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,097 in Nazare.
🙂Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 20% less than in Nazare, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 3% below, Nazare is 21% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Nazare
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$205
$11.72€10.17
0.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$727
$45.46€39.44
-8.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$186
$9.31€8.08
14.29%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$61.5
$2.22€1.92
58.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.37
$1.84€1.59
-17.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$17.00
$1.41€1.22
-31.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.5
$2.33€2.02
26.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.8
$3.42€2.97
30.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Nazare
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$24.16
$1.11€0.96
24.32%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$33.04
$1.53€1.32
23.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.59
$1.69€1.47
-2.96%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.76
$3.02€2.62
-16.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$146
$11.30€9.80
-26.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$146
$7.66€6.65
8.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$187
$14.15€12.28
-24.17%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.48
$2.29€1.99
13.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.45
$1.43€1.24
2.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$33.19
$1.88€1.63
1.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.26
$2.54€2.20
-18.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$31.01
$1.45€1.26
22.76%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$38.16
$1.94€1.68
12.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$18.16
$1.58€1.37
-34.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.80
$0.85€0.74
27.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$71.3
$6.17€5.35
-33.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$180
$5.12€4.44
101.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.90
$1.26€1.09
35.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.98
$2.27€1.97
13.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Nazare
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.90
$2.38€2.06
-78.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$462
$41.39€35.91
-36.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$57.0
$4.21€3.65
-22.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.51
$0.79€0.68
215.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.7
$17.37€15.07
-81.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.83
$1.94€1.68
-32.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$528.8K
$34.6K€30.0K
-12.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$409.2K
$40.1K€34.8K
-41.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Nazare
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,447
$133€115
-37.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$388
$20.98€18.21
5.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$512
$42.86€37.19
-31.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Nazare
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$902
$43.32€37.58
19.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$320
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$88.5
$8.47€7.35
-40.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Nazare
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,507
$471€409
-57.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$91.0K
$8,324€7,222
-37.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Nazare
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$645
$73.4€63.7
-49.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$695
$38.89€33.74
2.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,370
$89.8€77.9
-12.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,521
$97.6€84.7
-10.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Nazare
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$17.0K
$922€800
5.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,169
$742€644
-36.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.7K
$1,449€1,257
13.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.3K
$1,172€1,017
4.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.9K
$2,795€2,425
41.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$113.5K
$2,056€1,783
216.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Nazare
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.6K
$1,009€875
-34.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
5.01
127.94%
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 Nazare: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $922 in Nazare. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Nazare pays 52% 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 $45.00 in Nazare. Groceries flip the comparison at $249 vs $246, with Nazare cheaper for home cooking.
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 Nazare: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and Nazare?
Playa del Carmen and Nazare differ by about 25% in total monthly costs ($1,297 vs $1,624 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Nazare earns 52% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Nazare?
Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $922 in Nazare. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Playa del Carmen or Nazare?
All in, you'll spend $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $1,624 in Nazare – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Playa del Carmen and Nazare?
A monthly transit pass in Playa del Carmen runs roughly 56% less than in Nazare. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,624 in Nazare, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Nazare. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Nazare?
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.
Is Playa del Carmen or Nazare safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Nazare are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Playa del Carmen or Nazare?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Nazare. 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