Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Pembroke
For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $2,374 in Pembroke, rent and utilities included – about $14,000 less a year. The total is higher in Pembroke despite lower rent and utilities.
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Playa del Carmen Living Index59Cost of Living Index in Playa del CarmenLearn more -
Pembroke Living Index115Cost of Living Index in PembrokeLearn more
How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Pembroke
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Pembroke actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,374 in Pembroke.
- Playa del Carmen $1,204
- Pembroke $2,374
Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,102 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,871 in Pembroke.
- Playa del Carmen $2,102
- Pembroke $3,871
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,000 in Playa del Carmen versus $5,368 in Pembroke.
- Playa del Carmen $3,000
- Pembroke $5,368
Living in Playa del Carmen costs roughly 49% less than in Pembroke, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.
The two cities straddle the global median: Playa del Carmen is 11% below, Pembroke is 75% above.
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 17, 2026
Last update for Pembroke: October 20, 2026
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $979 in Playa del Carmen and $3,811 in Pembroke. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
Pembroke pays 992% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
Dining out: $44.00 in Playa del Carmen vs $152 in Pembroke for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $258 vs $748 per month, with Playa del Carmen cheaper across the board.
- Playa del Carmen Pembroke 2,560 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
- Playa del Carmen
- Pembroke
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
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