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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Playa del Carmen versus $703 in Oyo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,184 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,281 in Oyo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,082 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,859 in Oyo.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 83% more expensive than Oyo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 4% lower, Oyo 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Oyo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94 MX$209
$2.65 ₦3,651
350.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$748
$50.3 ₦69.3K
-15.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.59 MX$185
$5.18 ₦7,126
104.44%
Cappuccino
$3.62 MX$63.4
$2.13 ₦2,935
69.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 MX$25.69
$0.34 ₦468
332.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 MX$16.51
$0.22 ₦303
327.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$54.1
$0.85 ₦1,166
263.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46 MX$78.0
$1.38 ₦1,901
223.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Oyo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.94
$2.24 ₦3,080
-36.16%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 MX$32.97
$1.24 ₦1,705
51.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 MX$28.50
$2.34 ₦3,228
-30.34%
Eggs
$2.64 MX$46.26
$1.76 ₦2,418
50.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 MX$144
$6.17 ₦8,496
33.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$145
$4.12 ₦5,674
101.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.10 MX$194
$5.35 ₦7,370
107.48%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 MX$46.40
$3.55 ₦4,881
-25.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MX$26.26
$2.10 ₦2,898
-28.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.79
$2.09 ₦2,880
-4.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.33
$2.40 ₦3,301
-13.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 MX$31.29
$2.28 ₦3,141
-21.49%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$38.09
$1.92 ₦2,647
13.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MX$18.84
$1.97 ₦2,713
-45.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 MX$18.15
$0.35 ₦484
197.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 MX$69.5
$1.25 ₦1,714
217.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.20 MX$179
$3.17 ₦4,359
221.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 MX$30.22
$0.64 ₦884
170.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 MX$43.71
$0.88 ₦1,213
184.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Oyo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.07
$0.34 ₦473
52.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.97 MX$472
$14.36 ₦19.8K
87.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$55.0
$1.24 ₦1,709
153.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.40 MX$42.04
$2.26 ₦3,111
6.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 MX$54.0
$4.58 ₦6,300
-32.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$22.28
$0.77 ₦1,067
64.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K MX$540.4K
$20.4K ₦28.1M
51.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$408.0K
$20.5K ₦28.3M
13.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Oyo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,435
$41.78 ₦57.5K
96.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45 MX$393
$9.99 ₦13.8K
124.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66 MX$519
$34.55 ₦47.6K
-14.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Oyo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.9 MX$908
$14.43 ₦19.9K
259.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67 MX$327
$4.59 ₦6,314
306.75%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 MX$87.0
$6.24 ₦8,597
-20.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Oyo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 MX$3,462
$82.7 ₦113.8K
139.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,273 MX$92.3K
$2,271 ₦3.1M
132.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Oyo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34 MX$636
$19.56 ₦26.9K
85.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05 MX$701
$24.26 ₦33.4K
65.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 MX$1,398
$48.20 ₦66.4K
65.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,555
$34.59 ₦47.6K
156.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Oyo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.9K
$412 ₦566.9K
133.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,133
$248 ₦341.7K
87.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,596 MX$27.9K
$1,055 ₦1.5M
51.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 MX$21.2K
$637 ₦876.9K
89.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,942 MX$69.0K
$742 ₦1.0M
431.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,448 MX$112.8K
$184 ₦253.9K
3396.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Oyo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$720 MX$12.6K
$33.32 ₦45.9K
2062.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
10
14.20%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Last update for Oyo: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $963 in Playa del Carmen and $412 in Oyo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 2062% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $43.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $50.0 in Oyo. Groceries flip the comparison at $251 vs $191, with Oyo cheaper for home cooking.

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 Oyo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Oyo cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Oyo is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 83% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Oyo?
Playa del Carmen pays 2062% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Playa del Carmen and Oyo?
Rent for a central apartment: $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $412 in Oyo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or Oyo?
Dining out is cheaper in Oyo – a meal for two runs $50.0 versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Oyo?
All in, you'll spend $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $703 in Oyo – a 83% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Oyo?
At $703 in Oyo versus $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Oyo but tight or insufficient in Playa del Carmen. The gap between the two cities makes Oyo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Playa del Carmen or Oyo more family-friendly?
For families, Oyo is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Playa del Carmen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Oyo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 83% 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

Similar cities