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 $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $754 in Qusar, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,111 in Qusar, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,468 in Qusar, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 72% more than Qusar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Qusar are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 3% lower, Qusar 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$7.59 ₼12.90

54.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$720

$17.60 ₼29.91

136.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

$7.59 ₼12.89

40.18%

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$60.9

$1.78 ₼3.03

97.75%

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

$1.51 MX$26.12

$0.73 ₼1.24

106.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.84

$0.25 ₼0.43

288.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.0

$1.46 ₼2.48

102.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

$1.78 ₼3.02

150.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.93

$0.91 ₼1.55

51.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.72

$0.30 ₼0.51

530.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.32

$1.42 ₼2.41

15.49%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.34

$1.07 ₼1.81

134.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$3.64 ₼6.19

129.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$3.15 ₼5.35

164.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

$7.22 ₼12.27

48.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.04

$0.49 ₼0.83

430.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.20

$1.50 ₼2.55

-2.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.87

$1.17 ₼1.98

62.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.91

$1.88 ₼3.19

10.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.71

$0.25 ₼0.43

612.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.80

$0.48 ₼0.81

356.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$17.99

$0.20 ₼0.33

420.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.62

$0.36 ₼0.61

200.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.6

$3.55 ₼6.04

14.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

$8.64 ₼14.68

19.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.61

$1.39 ₼2.37

23.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.54

$2.83 ₼4.81

-8.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

$0.25 ₼0.43

104.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$458

$11.84 ₼20.13

123.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.4

$1.17 ₼1.98

178.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.09

$0.57 ₼0.98

336.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.2

$2.28 ₼3.88

42.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.61

$0.57 ₼0.97

129.82%

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

$30.3K MX$523.7K

$19.4K ₼32.9K

56.20%

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

$23.4K MX$405.3K

$22.0K ₼37.3K

6.61%

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

$82.9 MX$1,433

$47.02 ₼79.9

76.24%

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

$22.22 MX$384

$11.55 ₼19.64

92.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$507

$11.70 ₼19.88

150.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$893

$19.64 ₼33.37

162.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

$11.90 ₼20.23

53.95%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.6

$5.93 ₼10.08

-14.50%

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

$201 MX$3,473

$70.7 ₼120

184.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.1K

$3,575 ₼6,076

45.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$639

$41.21 ₼70.0

-10.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$688

$40.87 ₼69.5

-2.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,357

$108 ₼183

-27.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,506

$70.5 ₼120

23.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.8K

$337 ₼573

188.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,090

$252 ₼428

85.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

$497 ₼844

230.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.1K

$397 ₼676

207.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.3K

$1,397 ₼2,374

182.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.4K

$1,224 ₼2,081

430.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

$419 ₼712

58.45%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Qusar: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $337 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 58% 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 $133 – 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 72%, 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 $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,130 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 $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $754 in Qusar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 123% 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 $754, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. 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.