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: $1,215 in Playa del Carmen versus $629 in Oyo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,144 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,147 in Oyo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,072 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,666 in Oyo.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 93% more expensive than in Oyo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 9% lower, Oyo 53% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Oyo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.97 MX$197
$3.85 ₦5,099
184.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.85 MX$806
$50.7 ₦67.1K
-11.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.92 MX$214
$7.69 ₦10.2K
55.01%
Cappuccino
$3.80 MX$68.4
$2.88 ₦3,809
31.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 MX$23.57
$0.42 ₦551
211.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 MX$15.39
$0.11 ₦151
681.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 MX$57.7
$0.36 ₦481
791.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.01 MX$90.1
$0.52 ₦683
863.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Oyo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 MX$26.20
$3.11 ₦4,113
-53.05%
White Bread (500g)
$2.33 MX$41.81
$0.52 ₦683
348.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.44 MX$25.92
$0.95 ₦1,257
51.58%
Eggs
$2.46 MX$44.23
$2.30 ₦3,042
6.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.70 MX$138
$3.55 ₦4,704
116.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.89 MX$142
$3.97 ₦5,262
98.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.80 MX$230
$4.45 ₦5,892
187.64%
Apples (1kg)
$2.92 MX$52.4
$1.65 ₦2,183
76.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 MX$25.55
$1.26 ₦1,671
12.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.57 MX$46.10
$1.10 ₦1,458
133.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.14 MX$38.41
$1.33 ₦1,756
60.90%
Potato (1kg)
$1.95 MX$34.99
$1.32 ₦1,751
47.73%
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 MX$34.79
$1.36 ₦1,800
42.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$20.68
$0.83 ₦1,100
38.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 MX$21.94
$0.29 ₦382
320.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38 MX$78.6
$0.59 ₦782
642.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.85 MX$177
$2.71 ₦3,594
263.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 MX$27.63
$0.36 ₦479
327.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 MX$48.80
$0.47 ₦621
478.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Oyo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.43
$0.40 ₦524
30.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.42 MX$493
$15.16 ₦20.1K
80.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.91 MX$88.3
$0.70 ₦921
601.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.52 MX$63.3
$0.92 ₦1,214
282.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.69 MX$102
$2.17 ₦2,877
162.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MX$27.67
$0.82 ₦1,083
87.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$381.7K
$11.4K ₦15.0M
87.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K MX$440.0K
$13.8K ₦18.3M
77.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Oyo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.6 MX$1,502
$14.88 ₦19.7K
461.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.03 MX$432
$16.33 ₦21.6K
47.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.33 MX$527
$32.64 ₦43.2K
-10.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Oyo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.9 MX$1,166
$15.00 ₦19.9K
332.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.46 MX$529
$4.71 ₦6,233
525.48%
Cinema Ticket
$5.09 MX$91.4
$4.86 ₦6,433
4.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Oyo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$208 MX$3,732
$676 ₦895.0K
-69.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,045 MX$72.7K
$20.0K ₦26.5M
-79.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Oyo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.55 MX$801
$6.18 ₦8,189
620.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06 MX$756
$18.39 ₦24.3K
128.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.5 MX$1,357
$14.96 ₦19.8K
404.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4 MX$1,642
$10.49 ₦13.9K
771.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Oyo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$986 MX$17.7K
$442 ₦585.6K
123.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$385 MX$6,921
$261 ₦345.9K
47.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,713 MX$30.8K
$1,115 ₦1.5M
53.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,108 MX$19.9K
$681 ₦901.4K
62.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,016 MX$72.2K
$754 ₦998.8K
432.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,247 MX$112.3K
$189 ₦250.3K
3204.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Oyo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$758 MX$13.6K
$34.61 ₦45.8K
2090.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
10
14.50%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 4, 2026

Last update for Oyo: October 4, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $986 in Playa del Carmen and $442 in Oyo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 2090% 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: $45.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $51.0 in Oyo. Groceries flip the comparison at $260 vs $142, 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 93% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Playa del Carmen or Oyo?
Average pay runs 2090% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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: $986 in Playa del Carmen versus $442 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 in Oyo?
Dining out is cheaper in Oyo – a meal for two runs $51.0 versus $45.00 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 and in Oyo?
All in, you'll spend $1,215 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $629 in Oyo – a 93% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Oyo?
At $629 in Oyo versus $1,215 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 93% less than in Playa del Carmen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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