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 36.9% cheaper than Papeete without rent, and 45.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Playa del Carmen is 45.2% cheaper than Papeete without rent, and 33.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Papeete
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.61 MX$200
$17.72 CFPF 1,794
-34.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75 MX$738
$81.9 CFPF 8,292
-47.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.60 MX$183
$12.36 CFPF 1,251
-14.24%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.0
$3.88 CFPF 393
-7.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$25.08
$3.34 CFPF 338
-56.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 MX$15.50
$2.82 CFPF 286
-68.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.03 MX$52.4
$2.97 CFPF 301
2.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56 MX$78.8
$3.85 CFPF 390
18.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Papeete
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 MX$25.07
$1.57 CFPF 159
-7.64%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 MX$31.55
$0.76 CFPF 77.0
140.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.77
$1.68 CFPF 170
-4.17%
Eggs
$2.54 MX$43.82
$6.40 CFPF 648
-60.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.54 MX$148
$26.21 CFPF 2,654
-67.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.47 MX$146
$16.60 CFPF 1,681
-48.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 MX$188
$26.57 CFPF 2,690
-59.13%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 MX$47.13
$5.29 CFPF 535
-48.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 MX$25.77
$2.21 CFPF 224
-32.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 MX$33.55
$5.76 CFPF 583
-66.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.38
$7.55 CFPF 765
-71.39%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 MX$31.88
$3.00 CFPF 303
-38.33%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.80
$2.69 CFPF 272
-18.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MX$18.52
$3.83 CFPF 388
-72.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.71
$1.16 CFPF 117
-6.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06 MX$70.1
$11.92 CFPF 1,207
-65.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.46 MX$181
$24.55 CFPF 2,485
-57.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 MX$28.56
$1.95 CFPF 197
-15.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 MX$44.01
$3.22 CFPF 326
-20.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Papeete
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.56 MX$9.60
$1.89 CFPF 191
-70.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.20 MX$453
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 MX$54.2
$9.49 CFPF 961
-66.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.37 MX$40.96
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MX$56.0
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.70
$1.60 CFPF 162
-18.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K MX$527.4K
$19.2K CFPF 1.9M
58.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K MX$411.4K
$29.7K CFPF 3.0M
-19.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Papeete
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.1 MX$1,436
$184 CFPF 18.6K
-54.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.15 MX$383
$17.37 CFPF 1,759
27.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.37 MX$507
$62.0 CFPF 6,280
-52.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Papeete
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.2 MX$884
$76.9 CFPF 7,785
-33.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69 MX$323
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.89 MX$84.4
$14.57 CFPF 1,475
-66.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Papeete
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$199 MX$3,431
$477 CFPF 48.3K
-58.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,207 MX$89.9K
$9,880 CFPF 1.0M
-47.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Papeete
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93 MX$621
$78.5 CFPF 7,948
-54.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.39 MX$680
$82.1 CFPF 8,309
-52.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.3 MX$1,387
$78.8 CFPF 7,975
1.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6 MX$1,512
$92.6 CFPF 9,377
-5.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Papeete
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$963 MX$16.6K
$1,240 CFPF 125.6K
-22.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 MX$8,326
$953 CFPF 96.5K
-49.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,645 MX$28.4K
$1,894 CFPF 191.7K
-13.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,192 MX$20.6K
$1,524 CFPF 154.3K
-21.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,957 MX$68.3K
$8,702 CFPF 881.1K
-54.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,513 MX$112.5K
$6,415 CFPF 649.5K
1.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Papeete
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$726 MX$12.5K
$2,432 CFPF 246.2K
-70.13%
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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Papeete: April 13, 2026

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

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