😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,260 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,005 in Oudtshoorn.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,125 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,557 in Oudtshoorn.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,990 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,108 in Oudtshoorn.
🌍Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 25% more expensive than in Oudtshoorn, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen5% lower, Oudtshoorn25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Oudtshoorn
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$8.47R 139
38.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$725
$33.30R 548
25.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
$4.75R 78.2
121.26%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.0
$2.06R 33.91
74.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.10
$1.03R 16.96
46.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.83
$0.82R 13.55
12.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
$2.19R 36.04
35.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.3
$2.57R 42.28
71.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Oudtshoorn
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.16
$1.12R 18.43
25.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.60
$1.01R 16.57
86.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$26.97
$1.56R 25.70
-
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.14
$2.51R 41.29
3.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$7.80R 128
6.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$4.60R 75.8
81.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
$6.52R 107
66.56%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$46.93
$1.68R 27.58
61.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.04
$1.46R 24.03
3.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.41
$1.47R 24.12
27.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.89
$1.63R 26.90
34.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.14
$1.35R 22.23
37.78%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.59
$1.17R 19.33
90.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.48
$1.05R 17.34
1.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.79
$0.98R 16.11
11.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.4
$2.76R 45.36
51.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$180
$4.68R 77.0
122.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.68
$1.33R 21.96
24.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.19
$1.73R 28.45
50.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Oudtshoorn
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$1.62R 26.65
-66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
$1.15R 18.90
167.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.61
$0.94R 15.52
155.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.1
$4.11R 67.6
-23.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.69
$1.24R 20.38
5.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$515.7K
$21.6KR 356.3K
37.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$403.5K
$23.6KR 388.0K
-1.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Oudtshoorn
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,406
$120R 1,968
-32.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$390
$35.33R 582
-36.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$520
$41.39R 681
-27.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Oudtshoorn
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$915
$31.49R 518
68.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$318
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.1
$6.75R 111
-27.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Oudtshoorn
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,474
$196R 3,227
2.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.5K
$4,265R 70.2K
21.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Oudtshoorn
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
$50.2R 827
-28.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$694
$32.72R 539
22.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,379
$87.4R 1,439
-8.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,496
$78.3R 1,288
10.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Oudtshoorn
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
$362R 5,966
169.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,140
$330R 5,431
42.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
$686R 11.3K
140.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.8K
$705R 11.6K
70.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.4K
$977R 16.1K
304.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.3K
$633R 10.4K
943.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Oudtshoorn
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
11.51
-0.78%
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 Oudtshoorn: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $978 in Playa del Carmen and $362 in Oudtshoorn. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $33.00 in Oudtshoorn for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $177 per month, with Oudtshoorn 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 Oudtshoorn: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Oudtshoorn?
Oudtshoorn wins on cost – living expenses run 25% lower than in Playa del Carmen. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Oudtshoorn the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Playa del Carmen and in Oudtshoorn?
You'd need roughly $1,890 in Playa del Carmen and $1,507 in Oudtshoorn 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 Oudtshoorn?
Rent for a central apartment: $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $362 in Oudtshoorn. 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 Oudtshoorn?
Childcare runs $201 in Playa del Carmen versus $196 in Oudtshoorn. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Oudtshoorn?
Dining out is cheaper in Oudtshoorn – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Playa del Carmen or in Oudtshoorn?
At $1,005 in Oudtshoorn versus $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Oudtshoorn but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Oudtshoorn the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Oudtshoorn?
Both work as nomad bases, but Oudtshoorn delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,005 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Oudtshoorn hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Oudtshoorn gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% 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