😐A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $359 in Rayagada, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $575 in Rayagada, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $792 in Rayagada, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 251% more than Rayagada, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Rayagada are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Rayagada73% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Rayagada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$1.76₹168
565.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$725
$9.06₹864
362.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
$3.41₹325
208.21%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.0
$1.14₹109
214.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.10
$0.38₹36.51
297.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.83
$0.12₹11.79
666.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
$2.15₹205
37.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.3
$3.47₹331
27.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Rayagada
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.16
$0.52₹49.38
169.23%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.60
$0.55₹52.7
241.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$26.97
$0.67₹63.8
132.84%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.14
$0.98₹93.1
166.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$3.25₹310
156.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$2.97₹284
181.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$46.93
$1.76₹168
53.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.04
$0.68₹64.9
122.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.41
$0.82₹78.7
128.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.89
$0.55₹52.5
298.18%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.14
$0.39₹37.34
376.92%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.59
$0.59₹55.8
277.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.48
$0.49₹46.73
118.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.79
$0.35₹33.53
211.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.4
$4.17₹398
0.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$180
$8.79₹839
18.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.68
$1.90₹181
-12.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.19
$3.76₹358
-30.59%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$4.75₹453
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Rayagada
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$0.30₹28.83
80.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
$8.55₹815
205.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
$0.61₹58.0
404.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.61
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.1
$2.29₹219
36.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.69
$1.17₹112
11.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$515.7K
$15.3K₹1.5M
94.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$403.5K
$24.0K₹2.3M
-3.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Rayagada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,406
$22.83₹2,178
256.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$390
$3.69₹352
511.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$520
$5.86₹559
412.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Rayagada
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$915
$16.12₹1,538
228.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$318
$6.99₹667
163.09%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.1
$3.14₹300
56.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Rayagada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,474
$67.1₹6,396
199.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.5K
$1,757₹167.6K
194.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Rayagada
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
$29.88₹2,849
20.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$694
$27.83₹2,655
44.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,379
$38.19₹3,643
108.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,496
$36.73₹3,503
135.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Rayagada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
$125₹11.9K
683.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,140
$76.8₹7,327
512.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
$269₹25.7K
513.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.8K
$182₹17.4K
560.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.4K
$1,046₹99.8K
277.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.3K
$505₹48.2K
1207.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Rayagada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
$596₹56.8K
13.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
8.3
37.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Last update for Rayagada: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $125 in Rayagada. 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 14% 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 $9.00 in Rayagada. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $104 – making Rayagada 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 Rayagada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rayagada cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 251%, 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 $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $538 in Rayagada. 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 Rayagada, 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 and in Rayagada?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $359 in Rayagada. 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 206% less in Rayagada. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Rayagada?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Rayagada, where all-in costs run around $359, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Rayagada it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Rayagada more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Rayagada – 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 Rayagada. 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