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 $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,109 in Osorno, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,617 in Osorno, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,124 in Osorno, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 17% more than Osorno, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Osorno are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Osorno 17% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Osorno
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$7.99 CLP 7,089
46.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$720
$32.32 CLP 28.7K
28.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
$6.98 CLP 6,192
52.44%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$60.9
$2.20 CLP 1,956
60.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.12
$1.39 CLP 1,232
8.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.84
$1.07 CLP 946
-9.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.0
$1.90 CLP 1,689
55.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.0
$2.67 CLP 2,367
66.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Osorno
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.93
$1.33 CLP 1,176
3.76%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.72
$1.58 CLP 1,406
19.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.32
$1.58 CLP 1,405
3.80%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.34
$3.90 CLP 3,458
-35.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$10.28 CLP 9,127
-18.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$5.82 CLP 5,164
43.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$186
$9.78 CLP 8,676
9.71%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.04
$2.13 CLP 1,890
22.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.20
$1.49 CLP 1,322
-2.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.87
$1.82 CLP 1,614
4.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.91
$2.06 CLP 1,832
0.97%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.71
$2.13 CLP 1,892
-16.43%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.80
$1.72 CLP 1,524
27.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$17.99
$1.23 CLP 1,092
-15.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.62
$1.03 CLP 914
4.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.6
$5.38 CLP 4,771
-24.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$178
$4.79 CLP 4,252
115.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.61
$1.58 CLP 1,400
8.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.54
$3.16 CLP 2,804
-18.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Osorno
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.81
$0.57 CLP 502
-10.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$458
$16.36 CLP 14.5K
61.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.4
$0.51 CLP 454
539.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.09
$0.93 CLP 822
167.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.2
$5.34 CLP 4,738
-39.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.61
$1.45 CLP 1,286
-9.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$523.7K
$15.0K CLP 13.3M
101.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$405.3K
$15.4K CLP 13.7M
51.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Osorno
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,433
$131 CLP 116.0K
-36.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$384
$10.59 CLP 9,403
109.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$507
$31.41 CLP 27.9K
-6.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Osorno
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$893
$39.09 CLP 34.7K
32.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
$14.21 CLP 12.6K
28.92%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.6
$9.73 CLP 8,632
-47.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Osorno
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,473
$438 CLP 388.9K
-54.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.1K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Osorno
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$639
$42.42 CLP 37.6K
-12.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$688
$30.22 CLP 26.8K
31.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,357
$45.72 CLP 40.6K
71.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,506
$47.19 CLP 41.9K
84.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Osorno
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.8K
$419 CLP 372.1K
131.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,090
$397 CLP 352.2K
17.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
$536 CLP 475.6K
206.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.1K
$595 CLP 528.3K
105.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.3K
$1,124 CLP 997.6K
251.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.4K
$1,662 CLP 1.5M
291.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Osorno
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
$679 CLP 602.8K
-2.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
4.72
141.95%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Osorno: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $419 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 2% higher in Osorno, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $32.00 in Osorno. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $228 – 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 17%, 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 $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,663 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 $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $438 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 Osorno?
Groceries cost about 9% 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 Playa del Carmen or Osorno?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Osorno, where all-in costs run around $1,109, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. 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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