😐A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $754 in Ozamiz, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,201 in Ozamiz, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,648 in Ozamiz, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 72% more than Ozamiz, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Ozamiz are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen3% lower, Ozamiz44% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ozamiz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$3.48₱215
237.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$720
$18.04₱1,112
130.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$3.23₱199
229.41%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$60.9
$2.44₱151
44.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.12
$0.84₱51.6
79.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.84
$0.39₱24.27
148.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.0
$1.34₱82.9
120.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.0
$2.18₱135
104.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ozamiz
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.93
$1.75₱108
-21.14%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.72
$0.80₱49.59
136.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.32
$0.89₱55.2
84.27%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.34
$1.58₱97.3
58.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$7.97₱491
4.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$4.37₱270
90.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$186
$7.63₱471
40.63%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.04
$2.99₱184
-13.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.20
$1.55₱95.4
-5.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.87
$2.61₱161
-27.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.91
$1.57₱96.6
32.48%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.71
$2.19₱135
-18.72%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.80
$2.54₱157
-13.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$17.99
$1.12₱69.0
-7.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.62
$0.73₱44.86
47.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.6
$2.77₱171
47.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$178
$7.99₱492
29.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.61
$1.16₱71.6
47.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.54
$2.06₱127
25.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ozamiz
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.81
$0.28₱17.47
82.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$458
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.4
$0.78₱47.93
317.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.09
$0.24₱14.83
937.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.2
$2.12₱131
53.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.61
$1.10₱67.8
19.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$523.7K
$26.1K₱1.6M
15.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$405.3K
$20.4K₱1.3M
15.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ozamiz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,433
$110₱6,811
-24.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$384
$33.07₱2,039
-32.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$507
$27.26₱1,681
7.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ozamiz
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$893
$33.72₱2,079
53.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
$4.30₱265
326.05%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.6
$5.85₱360
-13.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ozamiz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,473
$153₱9,429
31.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.1K
$4,269₱263.2K
22.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ozamiz
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$639
$45.05₱2,778
-18.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$688
$26.86₱1,656
48.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,357
$76.6₱4,725
2.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,506
$52.2₱3,218
66.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ozamiz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.8K
$263₱16.2K
269.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,090
$176₱10.9K
165.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$584₱36.0K
181.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.1K
$393₱24.2K
210.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.3K
$2,717₱167.5K
45.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.4K
$1,118₱69.0K
480.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ozamiz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
$192₱11.8K
246.21%
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: June 2, 2026
Last update for Ozamiz: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $263 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 246% 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 $197 – 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 72%, 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 $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,131 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 vs Ozamiz?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $754 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 $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $153 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 Playa del Carmen or Ozamiz?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ozamiz, where all-in costs run around $754, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared