😐A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $439 in Ondo, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,014 in Ondo, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,589 in Ondo, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 193% more than Ondo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Ondo are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen4% lower, Ondo67% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ondo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$2.56₦3,527
366.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$49.11₦67.6K
-12.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$5.28₦7,270
100.57%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$2.12₦2,917
70.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$0.34₦462
332.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$0.20₦275
370.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$0.84₦1,156
267.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$1.43₦1,965
211.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ondo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$2.37₦3,258
-39.66%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$1.21₦1,666
55.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$2.31₦3,187
-29.44%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$1.76₦2,426
50.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$6.17₦8,492
33.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$4.17₦5,748
98.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$5.49₦7,558
102.19%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$3.58₦4,925
-25.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$2.12₦2,925
-29.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$2.09₦2,880
-4.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$2.42₦3,327
-14.05%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$2.32₦3,188
-22.84%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$1.93₦2,655
12.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$1.95₦2,682
-44.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.39₦533
166.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$1.26₦1,734
215.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$3.27₦4,507
211.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$0.68₦934
154.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$0.93₦1,287
168.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ondo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$0.45₦626
15.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$1.19₦1,642
163.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$2.18₦2,996
10.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$4.66₦6,415
-33.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$0.77₦1,061
64.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$20.4K₦28.0M
51.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$20.6K₦28.4M
13.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ondo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$23.91₦32.9K
242.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$10.02₦13.8K
124.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$34.44₦47.4K
-13.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ondo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$6.41₦8,827
-22.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ondo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$82.3₦113.4K
140.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$2,284₦3.1M
130.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ondo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$19.26₦26.5K
88.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$25.09₦34.5K
59.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$65.3₦89.9K
22.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$56.2₦77.4K
58.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ondo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$701₦965.8K
127.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$468₦645.0K
158.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ondo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$25.61₦35.3K
2712.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
16.33
-30.07%
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 Ondo: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 2713% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $49.00 in Ondo. Groceries tell a different story – $251 in Playa del Carmen vs $194 in Ondo – so Ondo 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 Ondo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Ondo?
Playa del Carmen costs about 193% more than Ondo, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen vs Ondo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $659 in Ondo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen vs Ondo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen and $49.00 in Ondo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or Ondo?
Groceries cost about 29% 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or Ondo?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ondo, where all-in costs run around $439, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Ondo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Ondo?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ondo costs $439 versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Playa del Carmen or Ondo?
If budget matters most, go with Ondo. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared