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 $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,080 in Osorno, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,566 in Osorno, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,053 in Osorno, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 16% more than Osorno, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Osorno are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Osorno 19% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Osorno
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$209
$8.22 CLP 7,678
45.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78 MX$728
$32.07 CLP 29.9K
30.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.75 MX$187
$6.91 CLP 6,452
55.57%
Cappuccino
$3.50 MX$60.9
$2.17 CLP 2,026
61.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$25.22
$1.39 CLP 1,295
4.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 MX$15.41
$1.02 CLP 952
-13.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.3
$1.86 CLP 1,732
58.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51 MX$78.6
$2.63 CLP 2,459
71.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Osorno
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
$1.28 CLP 1,193
11.72%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 MX$31.99
$1.59 CLP 1,485
15.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$27.31
$1.58 CLP 1,480
-0.63%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.74
$3.89 CLP 3,633
-35.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.28 MX$144
$10.02 CLP 9,355
-17.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.43 MX$147
$5.82 CLP 5,433
44.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.68 MX$186
$10.06 CLP 9,396
6.16%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 MX$45.43
$2.09 CLP 1,956
24.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MX$25.04
$1.53 CLP 1,433
-5.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 MX$34.16
$1.81 CLP 1,691
8.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$36.47
$2.08 CLP 1,942
0.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 MX$32.24
$2.03 CLP 1,898
-8.87%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.74
$1.75 CLP 1,632
24.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 MX$17.96
$1.25 CLP 1,165
-17.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$18.70
$1.02 CLP 957
4.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10 MX$71.4
$5.47 CLP 5,104
-25.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.17 MX$177
$4.54 CLP 4,239
124.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$29.17
$1.66 CLP 1,549
1.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 MX$43.98
$3.22 CLP 3,009
-21.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Osorno
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.87
$0.56 CLP 522
-8.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.04 MX$453
$16.38 CLP 15.3K
58.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.3
$0.47 CLP 438
587.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.41 MX$41.88
$0.98 CLP 915
145.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.2
$5.42 CLP 5,063
-40.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 MX$23.00
$1.48 CLP 1,377
-10.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K MX$517.1K
$15.4K CLP 14.4M
92.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K MX$412.0K
$15.2K CLP 14.2M
55.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Osorno
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,428
$133 CLP 124.5K
-38.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95 MX$400
$10.76 CLP 10.0K
113.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11 MX$524
$31.64 CLP 29.5K
-4.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Osorno
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 MX$905
$39.32 CLP 36.7K
32.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53 MX$323
$14.05 CLP 13.1K
31.89%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98 MX$86.6
$9.56 CLP 8,921
-47.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Osorno
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,438
$438 CLP 409.2K
-54.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,336 MX$92.9K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Osorno
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60 MX$620
$42.54 CLP 39.7K
-16.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33 MX$702
$29.88 CLP 27.9K
34.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.8 MX$1,371
$46.34 CLP 43.3K
69.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,549
$46.74 CLP 43.6K
90.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Osorno
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$947 MX$16.5K
$409 CLP 382.0K
131.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,254
$392 CLP 366.0K
20.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,644 MX$28.6K
$541 CLP 505.1K
203.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,211 MX$21.1K
$589 CLP 549.7K
105.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,056 MX$70.6K
$1,088 CLP 1.0M
272.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,470 MX$112.7K
$1,617 CLP 1.5M
300.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Osorno
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 MX$11.4K
$656 CLP 612.7K
-0.36%
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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Osorno: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $409 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 0% 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 16%, 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 $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,620 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 $197 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 in 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 living in Playa del Carmen or in Osorno?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Osorno, where all-in costs run around $1,080, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. 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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