🙂A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,554 in Ostroda, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,159 in Ostroda, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,763 in Ostroda, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 19% cheaper than Ostroda, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Ostroda is 16% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ostroda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$209
$10.99zł 41.68
9.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$728
$38.30zł 145
9.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$187
$8.07zł 30.63
33.21%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$60.9
$3.27zł 12.42
7.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.22
$2.06zł 7.81
-29.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.41
$1.60zł 6.06
-45.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.3
$3.79zł 14.37
-22.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.6
$3.84zł 14.58
17.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ostroda
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$0.96zł 3.64
48.96%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.99
$1.32zł 5.01
39.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.31
$1.35zł 5.12
16.30%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.74
$3.16zł 12.00
-20.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$144
$7.97zł 30.24
3.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$6.83zł 25.91
23.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$186
$12.36zł 46.88
-13.59%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.43
$0.79zł 3.01
230.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.04
$1.08zł 4.09
33.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.16
$1.33zł 5.05
47.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.47
$1.35zł 5.12
54.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.24
$0.77zł 2.93
140.26%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.74
$0.78zł 2.97
178.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$17.96
$1.38zł 5.22
-25.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.70
$0.56zł 2.12
91.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.4
$5.20zł 19.72
-21.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$177
$6.64zł 25.18
53.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.17
$1.11zł 4.20
51.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.98
$1.65zł 6.26
53.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ostroda
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.87
$1.06zł 4.04
-51.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$453
$32.31zł 123
-19.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.3
$2.70zł 10.23
19.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$41.88
$1.03zł 3.89
133.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.2
$13.67zł 51.9
-76.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.00
$1.72zł 6.52
-23.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$517.1K
$33.0Kzł 125.3K
-10.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$412.0K
$33.5Kzł 127.0K
-29.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ostroda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,428
$359zł 1,362
-77.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$400
$10.21zł 38.76
124.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$524
$17.05zł 64.7
76.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ostroda
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$905
$36.15zł 137
43.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$323
$19.99zł 75.8
-7.30%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$86.6
$9.69zł 36.76
-48.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ostroda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,438
$577zł 2,190
-65.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$92.9K
$15.8Kzł 60.1K
-66.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ostroda
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$620
$99.5zł 377
-64.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
$47.92zł 182
-15.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,371
$93.9zł 356
-16.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,549
$110zł 417
-19.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ostroda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.5K
$647zł 2,455
46.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,254
$498zł 1,889
-4.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.6K
$969zł 3,675
69.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.1K
$803zł 3,046
50.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$70.6K
$2,867zł 10.9K
41.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$112.7K
$2,089zł 7,926
209.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ostroda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
$1,331zł 5,049
-50.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
7
63.14%
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 Ostroda: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $647 in Ostroda. 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 103% higher in Ostroda, 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $38.00 in Ostroda. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $197 – making Ostroda 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 Ostroda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ostroda cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Ostroda is pricier by about 24%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,332 in Ostroda. 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 Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Ostroda?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $1,554 in Ostroda. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 24% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Ostroda?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Ostroda at $1,554. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ostroda it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Ostroda more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Ostroda?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ostroda makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared