Last update: Oct 2026

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.

Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Pembroke
🇧🇲 Bermuda
$2,374
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Pembroke
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.86 MX$201
$49.04 BMD 49.04
-77.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.21 MX$817
$152 BMD 152
-70.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.76 MX$217
$16.78 BMD 16.78
-29.92%
Cappuccino
$3.68 MX$68.0
$4.38 BMD 4.38
-15.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 MX$24.79
$3.02 BMD 3.02
-55.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MX$15.24
$3.05 BMD 3.05
-73.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.06 MX$56.6
$7.63 BMD 7.63
-59.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.94 MX$91.2
$8.86 BMD 8.86
-44.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Pembroke
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 MX$27.17
$4.80 BMD 4.80
-69.38%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$40.95
$8.14 BMD 8.14
-72.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.48 MX$27.32
$5.40 BMD 5.40
-72.59%
Eggs
$2.49 MX$45.99
$7.07 BMD 7.07
-64.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.52 MX$139
$23.42 BMD 23.42
-67.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.96 MX$147
$21.37 BMD 21.37
-62.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.57 MX$232
$19.80 BMD 19.80
-36.52%
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$51.3
$8.94 BMD 8.94
-68.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 MX$26.37
$6.75 BMD 6.75
-78.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.62 MX$48.37
$7.25 BMD 7.25
-63.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.14 MX$39.49
$8.46 BMD 8.46
-74.70%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$37.38
$5.78 BMD 5.78
-65.05%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$36.74
$4.05 BMD 4.05
-50.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 MX$21.01
$6.34 BMD 6.34
-82.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 MX$22.18
$3.50 BMD 3.50
-65.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 MX$78.7
$17.99 BMD 17.99
-76.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.02 MX$185
$24.37 BMD 24.37
-58.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 MX$28.41
$5.17 BMD 5.17
-70.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 MX$49.17
$4.27 BMD 4.27
-37.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Pembroke
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.53 MX$9.73
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.51 MX$508
$131 BMD 131
-79.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.90 MX$90.6
$6.37 BMD 6.37
-23.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.43 MX$63.5
$2.54 BMD 2.54
35.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.38 MX$99.4
$70.5 BMD 70.5
-92.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 MX$26.76
$2.42 BMD 2.42
-40.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$391.0K
$37.3K BMD 37.3K
-43.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0K MX$425.3K
$42.9K BMD 42.9K
-46.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Pembroke
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.4 MX$1,577
$291 BMD 291
-70.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.46 MX$434
$150 BMD 150
-84.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.43 MX$525
$160 BMD 160
-82.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Pembroke
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.2 MX$1,149
$78.1 BMD 78.1
-20.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.68 MX$530
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.10 MX$94.3
$13.34 BMD 13.34
-61.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Pembroke
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,715
$1,303 BMD 1,303
-84.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,947 MX$72.9K
$25.5K BMD 25.5K
-84.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Pembroke
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.39 MX$820
$91.5 BMD 91.5
-51.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.35 MX$764
$71.1 BMD 71.1
-41.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.7 MX$1,344
$141 BMD 141
-48.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.6 MX$1,656
$127 BMD 127
-29.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Pembroke
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$979 MX$18.1K
$3,811 BMD 3,811
-74.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$373 MX$6,887
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,681 MX$31.1K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,095 MX$20.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,949 MX$73.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,137 MX$113.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Pembroke
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$738 MX$13.6K
$8,056 BMD 8,056
-90.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
8.63
32.68%

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

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$373
Pembroke
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$258
Pembroke
$748 190% $490
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$200
Pembroke
$575 187% $375
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Pembroke
$601 338% $464
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Pembroke
$194 73.7% $82
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$72
Pembroke
$105 44.7% $32
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$52
Pembroke
$150 * 191% $99

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.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇧🇲 Pembroke
🕒 Local time
20:08 8:08 PM
22:08 10:08 PM
2 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
11,160
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BMD, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 25, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

Bermudian Dollar exchange rates as of October 25, 2026: 1 USD = 1 BMD (1 BMD = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 BMD (1 BMD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Pembroke 2,560 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Pembroke

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Pembroke: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Playa del Carmen or Pembroke?
Playa del Carmen wins on cost – living expenses run 97% lower than in Pembroke. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Playa del Carmen the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Playa del Carmen or in Pembroke?
On paper, salaries run 992% lower in Pembroke. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Playa del Carmen compared to Pembroke?
Rent for a central apartment: $979 in Playa del Carmen versus $3,811 in Pembroke. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Playa del Carmen and in Pembroke?
Childcare runs $201 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,303 in Pembroke. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Playa del Carmen or in Pembroke?
Supermarket bills run roughly 190% higher in Pembroke. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Playa del Carmen or in Pembroke?
At $1,204 in Playa del Carmen versus $2,374 in Pembroke, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Playa del Carmen but tight or insufficient in Pembroke. The gap between the two cities makes Playa del Carmen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Playa del Carmen or Pembroke?
Both work as nomad bases, but Playa del Carmen delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,204 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Playa del Carmen hard to pass up.
How safe is Playa del Carmen compared to Pembroke?
Safety-wise, Playa del Carmen and Pembroke are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Playa del Carmen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 97% less than in Pembroke. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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