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

🙂 Solo nomad: Playa del Carmen is 16.4% cheaper than Papeete without rent, and 46% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Playa del Carmen is 52.6% cheaper than Papeete without rent, and 34% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Papeete
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99 MX$227
$17.27 CFPF 1,769
-30.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.47 MX$803
$83.5 CFPF 8,553
-49.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.47 MX$198
$11.92 CFPF 1,221
-12.16%
Cappuccino
$3.6 MX$68.2
$3.93 CFPF 403
-8.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 MX$27.16
$3.38 CFPF 347
-57.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 MX$16.79
$2.72 CFPF 279
-67.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 MX$58.5
$2.94 CFPF 301
5.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58 MX$86.6
$3.92 CFPF 402
16.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Papeete
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$26.04
$1.58 CFPF 162
-12.66%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 MX$34.9
$0.8 CFPF 81.7
131.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$29.68
$1.69 CFPF 174
-7.10%
Eggs
$2.55 MX$48.3
$6.46 CFPF 662
-60.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.61 MX$163
$25.49 CFPF 2,612
-66.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.54 MX$161
$16.76 CFPF 1,717
-49.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.98 MX$208
$26.98 CFPF 2,764
-59.30%
Apples (1kg)
$2.72 MX$51.4
$5.27 CFPF 540
-48.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$28.57
$2.25 CFPF 230
-32.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 MX$35.63
$5.89 CFPF 604
-68.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.42
$7.91 CFPF 810
-72.31%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 MX$35.3
$3.06 CFPF 314
-38.89%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$41.37
$2.65 CFPF 271
-17.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$20.23
$3.86 CFPF 395
-72.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$20.64
$1.15 CFPF 118
-5.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 MX$74.9
$12.25 CFPF 1,255
-67.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.86 MX$167
$24.04 CFPF 2,463
-63.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$32.53
$2.03 CFPF 208
-15.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MX$49.37
$3.08 CFPF 315
-15.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Papeete
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MX$9.74
$1.96 CFPF 201
-73.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.59 MX$503
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$61.2
$9.88 CFPF 1,013
-67.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.38 MX$44.94
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 MX$58.7
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$24.85
$1.61 CFPF 165
-18.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$573K
$19.8K CFPF 2M
53.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24K MX$453.6K
$28.8K CFPF 3M
-16.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Papeete
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.2 MX$1,592
$183 CFPF 18.8K
-54.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.14 MX$419
$17.14 CFPF 1,756
29.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.14 MX$570
$63 CFPF 6,451
-52.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Papeete
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52 MX$983
$76.8 CFPF 7,864
-32.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.72 MX$354
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$95.9
$14.48 CFPF 1,483
-64.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Papeete
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$200 MX$3,787
$487 CFPF 49.9K
-58.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,333 MX$100.8K
$9,876 CFPF 1M
-46.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Papeete
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.74 MX$676
$77.6 CFPF 7,952
-53.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.8 MX$753
$81.8 CFPF 8,376
-51.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79 MX$1,493
$78.9 CFPF 8,082
0.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 MX$1,671
$91.7 CFPF 9,394
-3.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Papeete
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$965 MX$18.3K
$1,213 CFPF 124.3K
-20.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MX$8,968
$955 CFPF 97.8K
-50.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,653 MX$31.2K
$1,934 CFPF 198.2K
-14.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,202 MX$22.7K
$1,582 CFPF 162.1K
-24.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,081 MX$58.3K
$8,534 CFPF 874.3K
-63.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,529 MX$142.3K
$6,353 CFPF 650.9K
18.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Papeete
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$792 MX$15K
$2,412 CFPF 247.1K
-67.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
6
90.33%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

Last update for Papeete: October 29, 2025

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