Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Oristano

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,210 a month against $1,700 in Oristano, rent and utilities included – about $5,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,210
/mo nomad
Oristano
🇮🇹 Italy
$1,700
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Oristano

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Oristano actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,210 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,700 in Oristano.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,210
  • Oristano $1,700

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,113 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,609 in Oristano.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,113
  • Oristano $2,609

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,016 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,517 in Oristano.

  • Playa del Carmen $3,016
  • Oristano $3,517

Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 29% less than in Oristano, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 10% below, Oristano is 26% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Oristano
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.76 MX$199
$22.71 €20.20
-52.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.03 MX$795
$84.0 €74.7
-48.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.79 MX$218
$5.54 €4.92
112.82%
Cappuccino
$3.87 MX$71.4
$1.68 €1.50
130.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 MX$25.29
$3.12 €2.77
-56.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 MX$15.44
$1.14 €1.02
-26.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.10 MX$57.3
$5.49 €4.88
-43.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.07 MX$93.6
$3.32 €2.95
52.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Oristano
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$26.55
$1.54 €1.37
-6.49%
White Bread (500g)
$2.23 MX$41.23
$2.72 €2.42
-18.01%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.47 MX$27.17
$2.94 €2.61
-50.00%
Eggs
$2.53 MX$46.71
$3.76 €3.35
-32.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.30 MX$135
$13.46 €11.97
-45.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.86 MX$145
$12.19 €10.84
-35.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.79 MX$236
$22.62 €20.12
-43.46%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 MX$53.6
$1.63 €1.45
77.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MX$26.53
$1.43 €1.27
0.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 MX$47.07
$2.26 €2.01
12.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.06 MX$38.03
$3.56 €3.17
-42.13%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 MX$36.97
$1.94 €1.73
3.09%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 MX$37.07
$2.25 €2.00
-10.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 MX$22.02
$1.53 €1.36
-22.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 MX$23.23
$0.56 €0.50
125.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.40 MX$81.4
$6.80 €6.05
-35.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.59 MX$177
$8.47 €7.53
13.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 MX$29.41
$1.64 €1.46
-3.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 MX$51.9
$1.79 €1.59
56.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Oristano
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 MX$10.47
$1.69 €1.50
-66.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.82 MX$514
$39.34 €35.00
-29.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.98 MX$92.1
$9.43 €8.39
-47.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.50 MX$64.6
$1.53 €1.36
128.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.40 MX$99.8
$31.68 €28.18
-82.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 MX$27.08
$2.02 €1.80
-27.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K MX$387.8K
$36.3K €32.3K
-42.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9K MX$441.8K
$35.5K €31.6K
-32.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Oristano
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.2 MX$1,556
$155 €138
-45.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.99 MX$443
$9.18 €8.16
161.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.02 MX$536
$27.09 €24.10
7.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Oristano
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$63.0 MX$1,164
$55.3 €49.21
13.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.14 MX$539
$22.31 €19.85
30.61%
Cinema Ticket
$4.94 MX$91.3
$9.09 €8.09
-45.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Oristano
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$204 MX$3,763
$522 €464
-60.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,941 MX$72.8K
$8,165 €7,263
-51.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Oristano
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.60 MX$806
$97.3 €86.5
-55.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.12 MX$797
$41.84 €37.21
3.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.8 MX$1,400
$92.6 €82.3
-18.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.6 MX$1,637
$116 €103
-23.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Oristano
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,008 MX$18.6K
$639 €568
57.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$374 MX$6,911
$612 €545
-38.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 MX$31.6K
$1,153 €1,026
48.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,106 MX$20.4K
$901 €801
22.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,944 MX$72.9K
$2,886 €2,567
36.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,169 MX$114.0K
$1,743 €1,550
254.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Oristano
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$754 MX$13.9K
$1,907 €1,697
-60.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
3.27
250.15%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 10, 2026

Last update for Oristano: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$374
Oristano
$612 63.7% $238
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$258
Oristano
$334 29.2% $76
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$202
Oristano
$270 33.3% $67
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Oristano
$191 39.5% $54
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$113
Oristano
$156 38.5% $43
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$73
Oristano
$74 0.9% $0.6
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$53
Oristano
$63 20.1% $11

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,008 in Playa del Carmen and $639 in Oristano. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Oristano pays 153% 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: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $84.0 in Oristano for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $258 vs $334 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇮🇹 Oristano
🕒 Local time
17:10 5:10 PM
00:10 12:10 AM
7 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
32,156
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Oristano 9,020 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Oristano

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Oristano: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Oristano?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 40% lower than in Oristano. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or in Oristano?
On paper, salaries run 153% lower in Oristano. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen compared to Oristano?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,008 in Playa del Carmen versus $639 in Oristano. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Oristano?
Childcare runs $204 in Playa del Carmen versus $522 in Oristano. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or in Oristano?
Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Oristano. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or in Oristano?
At $1,210 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,700 in Oristano, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Oristano. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Oristano?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,210 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Oristano?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Oristano are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Oristano. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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