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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $775 in Ozamiz, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,209 in Ozamiz, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,644 in Ozamiz, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 62% more than Ozamiz, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Carmen and Ozamiz are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Ozamiz 42% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ozamiz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$210
$3.48 ₱214
244.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78 MX$733
$17.51 ₱1,078
138.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.75 MX$189
$3.24 ₱199
231.79%
Cappuccino
$3.50 MX$61.3
$2.38 ₱146
47.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$25.41
$0.78 ₱48.15
85.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 MX$15.52
$0.39 ₱24.29
125.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.7
$1.31 ₱81.0
125.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51 MX$79.1
$2.17 ₱133
107.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ozamiz
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$25.12
$1.82 ₱112
-21.43%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 MX$32.23
$0.82 ₱50.5
124.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$27.51
$0.88 ₱54.5
78.41%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$44.06
$1.57 ₱96.9
59.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.28 MX$145
$7.84 ₱483
5.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.43 MX$148
$4.23 ₱261
99.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.68 MX$187
$7.95 ₱489
34.34%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 MX$45.76
$3.00 ₱185
-13.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MX$25.22
$1.53 ₱94.3
-5.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 MX$34.41
$2.62 ₱161
-25.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 MX$36.74
$1.55 ₱95.7
34.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 MX$32.47
$2.23 ₱137
-17.04%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 MX$38.02
$2.49 ₱154
-12.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 MX$18.09
$1.06 ₱65.4
-2.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$18.84
$0.71 ₱43.41
50.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10 MX$72.0
$2.89 ₱178
41.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.17 MX$178
$9.26 ₱570
9.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$29.38
$1.17 ₱72.0
43.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 MX$44.31
$1.97 ₱121
28.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ozamiz
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.93
$0.28 ₱17.26
82.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.04 MX$457
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.7
$0.82 ₱50.8
293.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.41 MX$42.19
$0.24 ₱14.81
904.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 MX$56.6
$2.10 ₱129
53.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 MX$23.17
$1.13 ₱69.7
16.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K MX$520.9K
$26.6K ₱1.6M
11.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K MX$415.0K
$20.2K ₱1.2M
16.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ozamiz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.0 MX$1,439
$113 ₱6,942
-27.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95 MX$403
$33.15 ₱2,041
-30.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11 MX$528
$27.99 ₱1,723
7.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ozamiz
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 MX$912
$33.32 ₱2,051
55.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53 MX$325
$4.51 ₱278
310.86%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98 MX$87.3
$6.04 ₱372
-17.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ozamiz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$197 MX$3,463
$154 ₱9,468
28.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,336 MX$93.6K
$4,328 ₱266.4K
23.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ozamiz
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60 MX$624
$45.82 ₱2,821
-22.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33 MX$707
$26.74 ₱1,646
50.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.8 MX$1,381
$75.6 ₱4,653
4.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 MX$1,560
$53.7 ₱3,307
65.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ozamiz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$947 MX$16.6K
$266 ₱16.4K
256.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,314
$176 ₱10.9K
168.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,644 MX$28.8K
$584 ₱35.9K
181.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,211 MX$21.2K
$395 ₱24.3K
206.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,056 MX$71.1K
$2,644 ₱162.8K
53.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,470 MX$113.5K
$984 ₱60.6K
557.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ozamiz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 MX$11.5K
$196 ₱12.1K
233.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6.67
71.21%

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 Ozamiz: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $266 in Ozamiz. 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 233% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 $18.00 in Ozamiz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $200 – making Ozamiz 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 Ozamiz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ozamiz cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 62%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,162 in Ozamiz. 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 Ozamiz, 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 Ozamiz?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $775 in Ozamiz. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $197 per month in Playa del Carmen and $154 in Ozamiz. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Ozamiz?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ozamiz, where all-in costs run around $775, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Ozamiz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Ozamiz more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ozamiz – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ozamiz. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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