🙂A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,335 in Okazaki, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,122 in Okazaki, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,909 in Okazaki, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 5% cheaper than Okazaki, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Okazaki are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen7% lower, Okazaki2% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Okazaki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$199
$7.91¥1,235
46.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$809
$32.22¥5,031
46.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$204
$5.11¥798
132.49%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.2
$2.36¥369
68.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.49
$1.16¥182
23.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.16
$0.60¥93.0
36.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$54.7
$2.12¥331
50.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$2.41¥376
181.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Okazaki
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.76
$1.51¥236
11.26%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.71
$1.33¥208
65.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.32
$5.75¥898
-70.26%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.05
$2.08¥324
31.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$164
$12.86¥2,009
-25.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$9.83¥1,535
-8.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$220
$32.77¥5,117
-60.91%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.58
$4.91¥767
-41.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.70
$3.65¥570
-58.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.87
$3.16¥493
-31.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.79
$4.21¥658
-46.32%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.00
$3.82¥597
-48.17%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.15
$3.55¥554
-43.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.18
$1.29¥201
-4.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.54
$1.00¥157
20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.1
$3.61¥563
26.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$178
$8.17¥1,276
26.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.79
$2.10¥328
-22.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.44
$1.53¥240
88.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Okazaki
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.30
$1.61¥251
-62.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$494
$62.9¥9,821
-54.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.5
$3.23¥504
66.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.0
$3.19¥498
16.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.0
$27.03¥4,221
-78.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.37
$1.09¥171
41.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$387.0K
$20.8K¥3.3M
8.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$447.3K
$17.3K¥2.7M
50.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Okazaki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,569
$148¥23.2K
-38.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$433
$24.29¥3,794
3.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$536
$43.81¥6,842
-28.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Okazaki
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,154
$52.6¥8,220
27.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$500
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.5
$9.93¥1,550
-51.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Okazaki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,839
$335¥52.4K
-33.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.6K
$6,202¥968.6K
-31.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Okazaki
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$808
$51.9¥8,099
-9.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$760
$25.50¥3,982
73.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,375
$47.16¥7,364
69.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,591
$65.7¥10.3K
41.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Okazaki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.2K
$519¥81.1K
104.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,698
$331¥51.7K
17.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$36.9K
$1,092¥170.5K
96.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.8K
$664¥103.7K
91.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$68.7K
$4,069¥635.5K
-1.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$111.6K
$1,803¥281.5K
260.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Okazaki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
2.28
402.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Last update for Okazaki: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $519 in Okazaki. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $32.00 in Okazaki. Groceries tell a different story – $276 in Playa del Carmen vs $392 in Okazaki – 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 Okazaki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Okazaki cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Okazaki is pricier by about 5%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,003 in Okazaki. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or in Okazaki?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen and $32.00 in Okazaki. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Okazaki?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $1,335 in Okazaki. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Okazaki?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,266, than in Okazaki at $1,335. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okazaki it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Okazaki more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Okazaki?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Okazaki makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared