😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $774 in Osório.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,125 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,255 in Osório.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,990 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,737 in Osório.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 63% more expensive than in Osório, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen5% lower, Osório42% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Osório
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$6.25R$31.72
87.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$725
$27.30R$139
53.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
$6.49R$32.92
61.94%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.0
$1.87R$9.49
91.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.10
$1.18R$5.99
27.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.83
$0.83R$4.21
10.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
$2.11R$10.71
40.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.3
$3.62R$18.36
21.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Osório
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.16
$0.83R$4.21
68.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.60
$0.70R$3.53
168.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$26.97
$1.05R$5.33
48.57%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.14
$2.11R$10.69
23.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$8.32R$42.20
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$4.44R$22.54
88.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
$9.08R$46.10
19.60%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$46.93
$1.06R$5.37
155.66%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.04
$1.10R$5.56
37.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.41
$0.51R$2.61
266.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.89
$0.87R$4.41
151.72%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.14
$0.70R$3.57
165.71%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.59
$0.74R$3.77
201.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.48
$0.56R$2.85
91.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.79
$0.53R$2.68
105.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.4
$1.95R$9.90
114.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$180
$5.87R$29.80
77.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.68
$0.94R$4.78
76.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.19
$1.79R$9.08
45.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Osório
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$0.92R$4.66
-41.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
$39.22R$199
-33.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
$1.67R$8.46
84.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.61
$1.01R$5.14
137.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.1
$5.46R$27.70
-42.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.69
$1.11R$5.64
18.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$515.7K
$24.4KR$123.7K
22.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$403.5K
$27.5KR$139.5K
-15.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Osório
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,406
$60.0R$305
35.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$390
$14.78R$75.0
52.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$520
$19.80R$100
51.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Osório
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$915
$22.79R$116
132.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$318
$21.20R$108
-13.25%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.1
$6.27R$31.83
-21.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Osório
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,474
$308R$1,561
-34.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.5K
$7,141R$36.2K
-27.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Osório
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
$48.24R$245
-25.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$694
$56.4R$286
-28.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,379
$81.9R$416
-2.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,496
$63.7R$323
35.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Osório
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
$314R$1,593
211.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,140
$217R$1,102
116.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
$576R$2,920
186.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.8K
$427R$2,166
181.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.4K
$1,429R$7,249
176.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.3K
$1,047R$5,311
531.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Osório
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
10
14.20%
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 Osório: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $978 in Playa del Carmen and $314 in Osório. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $27.00 in Osório for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $153 per month, with Osório cheaper across the board.
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 Osório: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Osório?
Osório wins on cost – living expenses run 63% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Osório the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen and in Osório?
You'd need roughly $1,890 in Playa del Carmen and $1,161 in Osório to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen compared to Osório?
Rent for a central apartment: $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $314 in Osório. 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 Osório?
Childcare runs $201 in Playa del Carmen versus $308 in Osório. 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 Osório?
Supermarket bills run roughly 65% higher in Playa del Carmen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or in Osório?
At $774 in Osório versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Osório but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Osório the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Osório?
Both work as nomad bases, but Osório delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $774 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Osório hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Osório gentler on the wallet – expenses run 63% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared