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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $733 in Qusar, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,096 in Qusar, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,458 in Qusar, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 71% more than Qusar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Qusar are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 6% lower, Qusar 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.99 MX$209

$7.78 ₼13.23

54.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.78 MX$728

$17.53 ₼29.79

138.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.75 MX$187

$7.88 ₼13.39

36.42%

Cappuccino

$3.50 MX$60.9

$1.72 ₼2.93

103.49%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 MX$25.22

$0.69 ₼1.17

110.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 MX$15.41

$0.23 ₼0.39

282.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.3

$1.50 ₼2.54

96.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 MX$78.6

$1.80 ₼3.06

150.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MX$24.94

$0.84 ₼1.43

70.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$31.99

$0.30 ₼0.52

513.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 MX$27.31

$1.39 ₼2.37

12.95%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.74

$1.08 ₼1.83

132.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.28 MX$144

$3.68 ₼6.25

125.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$147

$3.15 ₼5.35

167.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.68 MX$186

$6.93 ₼11.77

54.11%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 MX$45.43

$0.49 ₼0.83

432.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MX$25.04

$1.50 ₼2.55

-4.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$34.16

$1.20 ₼2.04

63.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$36.47

$1.81 ₼3.07

15.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 MX$32.24

$0.25 ₼0.43

640.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.74

$0.52 ₼0.88

317.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 MX$17.96

$0.20 ₼0.33

415.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.70

$0.37 ₼0.62

189.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MX$71.4

$3.54 ₼6.02

15.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 MX$177

$9.00 ₼15.30

13.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$29.17

$1.39 ₼2.37

20.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MX$43.98

$2.78 ₼4.72

-8.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.87

$0.23 ₼0.39

121.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.04 MX$453

$11.96 ₼20.33

117.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.3

$1.20 ₼2.04

169.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.41 MX$41.88

$0.61 ₼1.04

295.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 MX$56.2

$2.30 ₼3.91

40.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$23.00

$0.61 ₼1.04

116.39%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.7K MX$517.1K

$19.0K ₼32.4K

55.98%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.7K MX$412.0K

$22.0K ₼37.4K

7.54%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.0 MX$1,428

$47.20 ₼80.2

73.75%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.95 MX$400

$11.72 ₼19.91

95.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.11 MX$524

$11.57 ₼19.67

160.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$905

$19.62 ₼33.35

164.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$323

$11.74 ₼19.95

57.84%

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MX$86.6

$6.03 ₼10.24

-17.41%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$197 MX$3,438

$71.0 ₼121

178.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,336 MX$92.9K

$3,472 ₼5,901

53.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.60 MX$620

$40.43 ₼68.7

-11.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.33 MX$702

$40.41 ₼68.7

-0.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,371

$105 ₼178

-24.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,549

$70.3 ₼119

26.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$947 MX$16.5K

$328 ₼558

188.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 MX$8,254

$256 ₼435

85.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,644 MX$28.6K

$498 ₼847

230.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 MX$21.1K

$390 ₼662

210.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$70.6K

$1,389 ₼2,361

191.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,470 MX$112.7K

$1,244 ₼2,114

420.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 MX$11.4K

$418 ₼711

56.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

7.85

45.48%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Last update for Qusar: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $328 in Qusar. 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 56% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $18.00 in Qusar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $132 – making Qusar 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 Qusar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 71%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,099 in Qusar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Qusar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $733 in Qusar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 118% less in Qusar. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Qusar, where all-in costs run around $733, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Qusar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Qusar – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Qusar. 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.