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 $1,293 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $714 in Ozamiz, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,098 in Ozamiz, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,374 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,481 in Ozamiz, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 81% 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 48% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ozamiz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.71 MX$198
$3.61 ₱226
224.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.59 MX$787
$17.05 ₱1,067
173.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.65 MX$197
$3.19 ₱200
265.20%
Cappuccino
$4.09 MX$69.2
$2.33 ₱146
75.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 MX$23.23
$0.66 ₱41.16
107.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 MX$14.09
$0.34 ₱21.54
144.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.35 MX$56.7
$1.26 ₱78.7
165.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91 MX$117
$1.90 ₱119
263.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ozamiz
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 MX$29.19
$1.52 ₱95.4
13.82%
White Bread (500g)
$2.26 MX$38.20
$0.79 ₱49.46
186.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 MX$29.90
$0.82 ₱51.4
115.85%
Eggs
$2.73 MX$46.18
$2.05 ₱128
33.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.18 MX$155
$4.76 ₱298
92.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.92 MX$151
$3.51 ₱219
154.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.60 MX$213
$7.65 ₱479
64.71%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 MX$51.1
$2.32 ₱146
30.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 MX$26.54
$0.78 ₱48.52
101.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 MX$35.92
$2.27 ₱142
-6.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 MX$38.27
$1.11 ₱69.2
103.60%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 MX$33.87
$2.14 ₱134
-6.54%
Onion (1kg)
$2.06 MX$34.89
$2.65 ₱166
-22.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 MX$19.94
$0.90 ₱56.2
31.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$20.35
$0.52 ₱32.70
130.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.63 MX$78.3
$2.85 ₱179
62.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.69 MX$181
$8.68 ₱543
23.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.37
$1.09 ₱68.1
48.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 MX$48.69
$1.96 ₱123
46.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ozamiz
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 MX$9.69
$0.27 ₱16.73
111.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.83 MX$504
$12.68 ₱794
135.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 MX$92.1
$0.83 ₱52.2
556.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.70 MX$62.6
$0.25 ₱15.64
1380.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.98 MX$101
$1.94 ₱121
208.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 MX$26.25
$1.05 ₱65.6
47.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3K MX$377.3K
$18.3K ₱1.1M
21.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K MX$438.5K
$19.7K ₱1.2M
32.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ozamiz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.1 MX$1,506
$138 ₱8,664
-35.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.04 MX$423
$15.93 ₱997
57.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.50 MX$532
$24.95 ₱1,562
26.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ozamiz
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.8 MX$1,145
$33.25 ₱2,081
103.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.92 MX$489
$4.33 ₱271
567.90%
Cinema Ticket
$5.05 MX$85.3
$4.82 ₱302
4.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ozamiz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$225 MX$3,802
$136 ₱8,520
65.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,222 MX$71.4K
$8,879 ₱555.8K
-52.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ozamiz
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.44 MX$802
$33.97 ₱2,127
39.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98 MX$760
$17.02 ₱1,066
164.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.0 MX$1,386
$79.5 ₱4,977
3.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1 MX$1,556
$57.0 ₱3,565
61.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ozamiz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,069 MX$18.1K
$274 ₱17.1K
290.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$405 MX$6,850
$150 ₱9,411
169.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,935 MX$32.7K
$508 ₱31.8K
280.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,301 MX$22.0K
$354 ₱22.2K
267.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,995 MX$67.5K
$2,649 ₱165.8K
50.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,626 MX$112.0K
$997 ₱62.4K
564.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ozamiz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$749 MX$12.7K
$193 ₱12.1K
288.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
6.75
69.63%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Last update for Ozamiz: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $274 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 289% 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $17.00 in Ozamiz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $169 – 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 81%, 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 $1,940 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,072 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 $1,293 in Playa del Carmen and $714 in Ozamiz. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 135% less in Ozamiz. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
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 $714, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. 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

Similar cities