😐A single person spends $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $383 in Purnia, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,130 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $602 in Purnia, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,999 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $821 in Purnia, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 230% more than Purnia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Purnia are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen6% lower, Purnia71% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Purnia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.67MX$202
$2.36₹222
394.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.88MX$726
$9.85₹925
325.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.40MX$180
$3.58₹336
190.50%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.6
$1.48₹139
143.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.45
$0.39₹36.84
276.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MX$15.80
$0.18₹16.43
405.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$2.28₹214
32.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47MX$77.4
$3.11₹292
43.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Purnia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.83
$0.65₹61.1
112.31%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.93
$0.45₹42.50
308.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.82
$0.49₹46.07
228.57%
Eggs
$2.57MX$44.52
$1.16₹109
121.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$3.95₹371
114.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.49MX$147
$2.39₹225
255.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.99MX$190
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.25
$1.34₹126
103.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.92
$0.78₹73.2
92.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.93
$1.11₹104
76.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.70
$0.54₹51.1
292.59%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.30
$0.35₹32.44
431.43%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.67
$0.22₹20.59
886.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.59
$0.48₹44.71
122.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05MX$18.18
$0.34₹32.14
208.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.6
$2.51₹236
66.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.28MX$178
$6.22₹584
65.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.87
$2.10₹198
-20.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49MX$43.12
$2.36₹222
5.51%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$6.57₹617
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Purnia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$0.28₹26.17
92.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.27MX$455
$8.96₹841
193.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10MX$53.8
$1.14₹107
171.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.46MX$42.66
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.1
$2.29₹215
41.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26MX$21.83
$1.23₹116
2.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KMX$522.8K
$15.1K₹1.4M
99.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$406.3K
$33.1K₹3.1M
-29.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Purnia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0MX$1,456
$43.94₹4,124
91.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21MX$385
$3.20₹301
594.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65MX$514
$7.60₹713
290.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Purnia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.6MX$912
$16.19₹1,519
225.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.34MX$318
$7.22₹678
154.02%
Cinema Ticket
$4.95MX$85.7
$3.89₹365
27.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Purnia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,438
$50.6₹4,744
292.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,322MX$92.2K
$1,858₹174.4K
186.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Purnia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.95MX$623
$25.95₹2,436
38.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.06MX$694
$28.40₹2,666
41.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,365
$41.86₹3,929
88.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,499
$36.82₹3,456
134.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Purnia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$977MX$16.9K
$122₹11.4K
701.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$471MX$8,158
$76.5₹7,182
515.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595MX$27.6K
$275₹25.8K
479.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,215MX$21.1K
$178₹16.7K
584.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,032MX$69.9K
$1,277₹119.8K
215.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,579MX$114.0K
$516₹48.4K
1174.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Purnia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$714MX$12.4K
$326₹30.6K
119.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
9.05
26.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026
Last update for Purnia: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $122 in Purnia. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 119% higher in Playa del Carmen, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42 in Playa del Carmen versus $10 in Purnia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $95 – making Purnia the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Purnia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Purnia cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 230%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,891 per month in Playa del Carmen and $574 in Purnia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Purnia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Purnia?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,261 in Playa del Carmen and $383 in Purnia. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 193% less in Purnia. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Purnia?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Purnia, where all-in costs run around $383, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,261. In Purnia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Purnia more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Purnia – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Purnia. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared