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: $1,271 in Playa del Carmen versus $696 in Oyo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,126 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,249 in Oyo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,980 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,801 in Oyo.

Living in Playa del Carmen is roughly 82% more expensive than Oyo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Oyo 48% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Oyo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.87 MX$204
$2.62 ₦3,560
353.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90 MX$736
$50.6 ₦68.9K
-15.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.65 MX$183
$5.31 ₦7,215
100.56%
Cappuccino
$3.45 MX$59.2
$2.20 ₦2,996
56.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 MX$25.81
$0.37 ₦499
305.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 MX$16.28
$0.22 ₦300
331.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$51.9
$0.80 ₦1,084
278.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 MX$79.1
$1.40 ₦1,898
229.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Oyo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.61
$2.36 ₦3,211
-41.53%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$31.70
$1.24 ₦1,685
49.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.65
$2.33 ₦3,174
-30.90%
Eggs
$2.59 MX$44.51
$1.76 ₦2,388
47.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.26 MX$142
$6.39 ₦8,686
29.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.37 MX$144
$4.29 ₦5,828
95.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.66 MX$183
$5.27 ₦7,173
102.28%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 MX$45.12
$3.44 ₦4,673
-23.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 MX$25.53
$2.02 ₦2,752
-26.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.92 MX$32.94
$2.17 ₦2,949
-11.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$35.81
$2.31 ₦3,145
-9.52%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 MX$31.88
$2.34 ₦3,181
-20.51%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.81
$1.94 ₦2,639
16.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 MX$18.23
$1.93 ₦2,623
-45.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.67
$0.35 ₦480
211.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15 MX$71.2
$1.27 ₦1,725
226.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.39 MX$178
$2.54 ₦3,461
309.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$29.59
$0.68 ₦929
152.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$44.85
$0.87 ₦1,181
200.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Oyo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 MX$9.30
$0.38 ₦511
42.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.94 MX$462
$14.45 ₦19.7K
86.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 MX$53.7
$1.18 ₦1,610
165.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.51 MX$43.09
$2.26 ₦3,079
11.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.15 MX$54.1
$4.60 ₦6,258
-31.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 MX$21.88
$0.74 ₦1,010
71.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K MX$521.3K
$20.2K ₦27.5M
50.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K MX$404.5K
$20.6K ₦28.0M
14.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Oyo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 MX$1,425
$40.78 ₦55.5K
103.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71 MX$390
$10.33 ₦14.0K
119.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46 MX$506
$34.44 ₦46.8K
-14.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Oyo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 MX$875
$14.51 ₦19.7K
251.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33 MX$315
$4.40 ₦5,978
316.59%
Cinema Ticket
$4.93 MX$84.5
$6.28 ₦8,539
-21.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Oyo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,386
$81.7 ₦111.1K
141.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,280 MX$90.6K
$2,276 ₦3.1M
131.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Oyo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90 MX$633
$18.89 ₦25.7K
95.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89 MX$685
$25.09 ₦34.1K
58.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.0 MX$1,373
$49.44 ₦67.2K
61.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5 MX$1,536
$33.92 ₦46.1K
163.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Oyo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$956 MX$16.4K
$416 ₦565.9K
129.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$477 MX$8,189
$248 ₦336.7K
92.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,646 MX$28.3K
$1,083 ₦1.5M
52.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,225 MX$21.0K
$633 ₦860.9K
93.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,918 MX$67.2K
$722 ₦981.1K
443.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,459 MX$110.9K
$186 ₦253.0K
3371.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Oyo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$667 MX$11.4K
$33.68 ₦45.8K
1880.37%
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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Oyo: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $956 in Playa del Carmen and $416 in Oyo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Playa del Carmen pays 1880% 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 $51.0 in Oyo. Groceries flip the comparison at $250 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 82% 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 1880% 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: $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $416 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 $51.0 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 $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen versus $696 in Oyo – a 82% 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 $696 in Oyo versus $1,271 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 82% 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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