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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,249 in Noord, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,110 in Noord, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,971 in Noord, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 3% more than Noord, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Noord are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 4% lower, Noord 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.94 MX$209

$13.37 AWG 23.93

-10.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.75 MX$748

$65.0 AWG 116

-34.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.59 MX$185

$10.11 AWG 18.10

4.75%

Cappuccino

$3.62 MX$63.4

$4.91 AWG 8.78

-26.27%

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

$1.47 MX$25.69

$1.02 AWG 1.83

44.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 MX$16.51

$1.47 AWG 2.63

-36.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 MX$54.1

$5.13 AWG 9.18

-39.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 MX$78.0

$6.92 AWG 12.40

-35.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.94

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 MX$32.97

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 MX$28.50

Eggs

$2.64 MX$46.26

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.21 MX$144

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$145

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.10 MX$194

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 MX$46.40

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$26.26

Oranges (1kg)

$1.99 MX$34.79

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.33

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 MX$31.29

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$38.09

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MX$18.84

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 MX$18.15

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.97 MX$69.5

Wine (Bottle)

$10.20 MX$179

$9.83 AWG 17.59

3.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.22

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 MX$43.71

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 MX$9.07

$3.02 AWG 5.41

-82.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.97 MX$472

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 MX$55.0

$6.05 AWG 10.84

-48.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 MX$42.04

$5.94 AWG 10.62

-59.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 MX$54.0

$49.33 AWG 88.3

-93.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 MX$22.28

$1.52 AWG 2.73

-16.45%

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

$30.9K MX$540.4K

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

$23.3K MX$408.0K

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

$82.0 MX$1,435

$152 AWG 272

-45.98%

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

$22.45 MX$393

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.66 MX$519

$100 AWG 180

-70.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 MX$908

$49.55 AWG 88.7

4.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.67 MX$327

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 MX$87.0

$7.93 AWG 14.19

-37.33%

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

$198 MX$3,462

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,273 MX$92.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.34 MX$636

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.05 MX$701

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 MX$1,398

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,555

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$963 MX$16.9K

$805 AWG 1,441

19.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 MX$8,133

$610 AWG 1,092

-23.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,596 MX$27.9K

$1,782 AWG 3,190

-10.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 MX$21.2K

$1,637 AWG 2,931

-26.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,942 MX$69.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,448 MX$112.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$720 MX$12.6K

$983 AWG 1,759

-26.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

90.33%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Last update for Noord: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $805 in Noord. 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 36% higher in Noord, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $65.0 in Noord. Groceries tell a different story – $251 in Playa del Carmen vs $20.00 in Noord – so Noord 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 Noord: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Playa del Carmen costs about 3% more than Noord, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,874 in Noord. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Noord, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $1,249 in Noord. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 1176% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Noord, where all-in costs run around $1,249, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Noord it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Noord costs $1,249 versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Noord. 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.