🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $6,516 in Paget Parish.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,181 in Playa del Carmen versus $12.7K in Paget Parish.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,065 in Playa del Carmen versus $18.8K in Paget Parish.
🙂Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 80% less than in Paget Parish, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 3% below, Paget Parish is 386% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Paget Parish
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$59.7BMD 59.7
-80.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$720
$180BMD 180
-76.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$14.77BMD 14.77
-27.96%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$60.9
$6.28BMD 6.28
-43.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.12
$3.39BMD 3.39
-55.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.84
$2.96BMD 2.96
-67.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.0
$9.95BMD 9.95
-70.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.0
$8.48BMD 8.48
-47.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Paget Parish
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.93
$4.48BMD 4.48
-69.20%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.72
$8.50BMD 8.50
-77.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.32
$5.44BMD 5.44
-69.85%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.34
$7.69BMD 7.69
-67.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$11.66BMD 11.66
-28.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$24.46BMD 24.46
-65.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$186
$32.67BMD 32.67
-67.16%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.04
$10.39BMD 10.39
-74.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.20
$6.49BMD 6.49
-77.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.87
$12.98BMD 12.98
-85.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.91
$11.22BMD 11.22
-81.46%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.71
$8.55BMD 8.55
-79.18%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.80
$5.13BMD 5.13
-57.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$17.99
$6.01BMD 6.01
-82.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.62
$3.17BMD 3.17
-65.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.6
$17.37BMD 17.37
-76.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$178
$24.32BMD 24.32
-57.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.61
$5.45BMD 5.45
-68.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.54
$4.61BMD 4.61
-44.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Paget Parish
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.81
$4.46BMD 4.46
-88.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$458
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.4
$6.39BMD 6.39
-48.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.09
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.2
$53.4BMD 53.4
-93.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.61
$2.25BMD 2.25
-41.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$523.7K
$34.4KBMD 34.4K
-11.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$405.3K
$38.8KBMD 38.8K
-39.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Paget Parish
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,433
$237BMD 237
-64.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$384
$118BMD 118
-81.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$507
$159BMD 159
-81.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Paget Parish
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$893
$197BMD 197
-73.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.6
$13.57BMD 13.57
-62.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Paget Parish
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,473
$1,295BMD 1,295
-84.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.1K
$24.9KBMD 24.9K
-79.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Paget Parish
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$639
$81.4BMD 81.4
-54.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$688
$60.6BMD 60.6
-34.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,357
$139BMD 139
-43.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,506
$125BMD 125
-30.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Paget Parish
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.8K
$4,669BMD 4,669
-79.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,090
$4,178BMD 4,178
-88.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$12.4KBMD 12.4K
-86.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.1K
$13.0KBMD 13.0K
-90.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.4K
$6,233BMD 6,233
4.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Paget Parish
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
7.22
58.17%
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 Paget Parish: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $973 in Playa del Carmen and $4,669 in Paget Parish. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $180 in Paget Parish for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $820 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
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 Paget Parish: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Playa del Carmen and Paget Parish?
Playa del Carmen and Paget Parish differ by about 403% in total monthly costs ($1,297 vs $6,516 including rent). Playa del Carmen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Playa del Carmen compared to Paget Parish?
You'd need roughly $1,945 in Playa del Carmen and $9,774 in Paget Parish to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Paget Parish?
Rent for a central apartment: $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $4,669 in Paget Parish. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Playa del Carmen and Paget Parish?
Childcare runs $201 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,295 in Paget Parish. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Playa del Carmen – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $180 in Paget Parish. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,297 in Playa del Carmen versus $6,516 in Paget Parish, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Paget Parish. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Playa del Carmen and Paget Parish?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Playa del Carmen or Paget Parish safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Paget Parish are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Playa del Carmen or Paget Parish?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 403% less than in Paget Parish. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared