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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,048 in Osorno, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,529 in Osorno, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,011 in Osorno, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 21% more than Osorno, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Osorno are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 7% lower, Osorno 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Osorno
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60 MX$200
$7.96 CLP 7,600
45.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11 MX$812
$30.78 CLP 29.4K
53.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.88 MX$205
$6.96 CLP 6,640
70.69%
Cappuccino
$3.98 MX$68.6
$2.12 CLP 2,020
87.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 MX$24.60
$1.31 CLP 1,249
9.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MX$14.22
$3.16 CLP 3,014
-74.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 MX$55.0
$1.84 CLP 1,759
73.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79 MX$117
$2.69 CLP 2,564
152.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Osorno
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 MX$28.89
$1.22 CLP 1,167
37.70%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$37.88
$1.59 CLP 1,516
38.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 MX$29.45
$1.55 CLP 1,475
10.32%
Eggs
$2.74 MX$47.26
$3.83 CLP 3,654
-28.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.58 MX$165
$9.75 CLP 9,307
-1.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.01 MX$155
$5.55 CLP 5,299
62.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.81 MX$221
$9.91 CLP 9,459
29.26%
Apples (1kg)
$2.89 MX$49.81
$2.05 CLP 1,954
40.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$25.81
$1.42 CLP 1,356
5.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 MX$37.03
$1.82 CLP 1,739
18.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.96
$1.99 CLP 1,902
13.57%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 MX$34.15
$2.00 CLP 1,908
-1.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.30
$1.66 CLP 1,586
19.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.23 MX$21.28
$1.19 CLP 1,138
3.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$20.63
$0.95 CLP 910
26.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55 MX$78.5
$5.15 CLP 4,918
-11.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.37 MX$179
$4.34 CLP 4,137
138.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.91
$1.60 CLP 1,525
1.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$49.67
$3.23 CLP 3,084
-10.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Osorno
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MX$10.35
$0.54 CLP 520
11.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.80 MX$497
$15.44 CLP 14.7K
86.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$92.9
$2.81 CLP 2,685
91.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.73 MX$64.3
$0.90 CLP 856
314.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.77 MX$99.5
$5.34 CLP 5,095
8.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$26.48
$1.37 CLP 1,309
12.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5K MX$388.8K
$14.8K CLP 14.1M
52.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K MX$449.3K
$14.4K CLP 13.7M
81.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Osorno
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.4 MX$1,576
$106 CLP 100.9K
-13.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20 MX$435
$10.64 CLP 10.2K
136.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24 MX$539
$30.26 CLP 28.9K
3.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Osorno
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 MX$1,159
$59.5 CLP 56.7K
13.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11 MX$502
$13.32 CLP 12.7K
118.54%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 MX$83.8
$9.38 CLP 8,953
-48.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Osorno
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$224 MX$3,856
$360 CLP 343.5K
-37.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,229 MX$72.9K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Osorno
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10 MX$812
$40.02 CLP 38.2K
17.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29 MX$764
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.1 MX$1,381
$44.06 CLP 42.0K
81.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7 MX$1,598
$44.85 CLP 42.8K
106.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Osorno
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,063 MX$18.3K
$405 CLP 386.7K
162.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$390 MX$6,728
$381 CLP 364.0K
2.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,149 MX$37.1K
$513 CLP 489.4K
318.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,272 MX$21.9K
$568 CLP 541.8K
124.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,001 MX$69.0K
$1,029 CLP 981.5K
289.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,502 MX$112.1K
$1,591 CLP 1.5M
308.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Osorno
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$758 MX$13.1K
$626 CLP 597.4K
21.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
4.72
142.58%

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 Osorno: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $405 in Osorno. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 21% 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $31.00 in Osorno. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $221 – making Osorno 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 Osorno: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Osorno cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 21%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,571 in Osorno. 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 Osorno, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $224 per month in Playa del Carmen and $360 in Osorno. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and in Osorno?
Groceries cost about 25% 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.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Osorno?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Osorno, where all-in costs run around $1,048, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Osorno it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Osorno more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Osorno – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Osorno. 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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