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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,245 in Okazaki, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,994 in Okazaki, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,742 in Okazaki, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 1% more than Okazaki, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Okazaki are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Okazaki 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Okazaki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72 MX$203
$6.99 ¥1,101
67.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89 MX$725
$42.36 ¥6,675
-1.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 MX$182
$5.60 ¥882
87.68%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.0
$3.20 ¥503
12.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.10
$1.20 ¥189
25.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 MX$15.83
$0.75 ¥117
22.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.96 MX$51.2
$2.10 ¥330
40.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41 MX$76.3
$3.16 ¥498
39.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Okazaki
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 MX$24.16
$1.52 ¥240
-7.89%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.60
$1.67 ¥262
12.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 MX$26.97
$4.91 ¥774
-68.23%
Eggs
$2.61 MX$45.14
$2.21 ¥349
18.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.32 MX$144
$9.91 ¥1,562
-16.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.35 MX$145
$6.16 ¥970
35.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 MX$188
$15.24 ¥2,401
-28.74%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 MX$46.93
$6.12 ¥965
-55.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$26.04
$3.19 ¥503
-52.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.41
$4.04 ¥637
-53.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.89
$5.86 ¥923
-62.63%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$32.14
$3.23 ¥510
-42.41%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 MX$38.59
$4.17 ¥656
-46.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.48
$1.37 ¥217
-21.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.79
$0.83 ¥130
31.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19 MX$72.4
$4.10 ¥647
2.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.43 MX$180
$9.08 ¥1,430
14.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 MX$28.68
$1.75 ¥275
-5.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$45.19
$2.12 ¥334
23.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Okazaki
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.37
$1.62 ¥255
-66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.16 MX$453
$56.4 ¥8,889
-53.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 MX$53.3
$3.45 ¥543
-10.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$41.61
$3.41 ¥537
-29.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$54.1
$22.59 ¥3,560
-86.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.69
$1.18 ¥186
11.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K MX$515.7K
$22.8K ¥3.6M
30.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$403.5K
$18.7K ¥2.9M
24.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Okazaki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 MX$1,406
$143 ¥22.6K
-43.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56 MX$390
$27.32 ¥4,305
-17.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05 MX$520
$33.81 ¥5,328
-11.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Okazaki
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.9 MX$915
$56.0 ¥8,830
-5.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 MX$318
$13.71 ¥2,160
34.14%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92 MX$85.1
$10.59 ¥1,669
-53.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Okazaki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,474
$279 ¥44.0K
-28.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,175 MX$89.5K
$14.0K ¥2.2M
-63.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Okazaki
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92 MX$622
$40.85 ¥6,437
-12.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13 MX$694
$28.95 ¥4,562
38.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.7 MX$1,379
$60.5 ¥9,536
31.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5 MX$1,496
$113 ¥17.8K
-23.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Okazaki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$978 MX$16.9K
$460 ¥72.6K
112.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 MX$8,140
$328 ¥51.7K
43.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,651 MX$28.6K
$863 ¥136.0K
91.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,203 MX$20.8K
$651 ¥102.5K
84.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,953 MX$68.4K
$3,775 ¥594.8K
4.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,607 MX$114.3K
$2,099 ¥330.7K
214.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Okazaki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$677 MX$11.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
2.05
457.07%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026

Last update for Okazaki: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $460 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $42.00 in Okazaki. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $326 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 1%, 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 $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,867 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 Okazaki, 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen and $42.00 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 $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $1,245 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 Okazaki, where all-in costs run around $1,245, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Okazaki it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Okazaki more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Okazaki – 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 Okazaki. 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.

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