Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Rio de Mouro Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Rio de Mouro

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,489 in Rio de Mouro, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,419 in Rio de Mouro, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,349 in Rio de Mouro, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 13% cheaper than Rio de Mouro, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Playa del Carmen sits 3% below the global median, while Rio de Mouro is 11% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Rio de Mouro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$203
$17.68 €15.22
-33.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62 MX$719
$57.3 €49.34
-27.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.64 MX$184
$9.46 €8.14
12.47%
Cappuccino
$3.52 MX$60.8
$2.29 €1.97
53.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 MX$26.09
$1.78 €1.53
-15.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.82
$1.19 €1.02
-18.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 MX$51.0
$2.35 €2.03
25.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MX$77.0
$4.02 €3.46
10.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Rio de Mouro
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 MX$23.90
$1.14 €0.98
21.05%
White Bread (500g)
$1.89 MX$32.69
$1.20 €1.03
57.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MX$28.29
$1.61 €1.38
1.86%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.30
$3.54 €3.05
-29.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$9.47 €8.15
-11.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 MX$144
$7.43 €6.40
12.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.73 MX$185
$11.38 €9.79
-5.71%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 MX$45.00
$3.14 €2.71
-17.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MX$25.18
$1.47 €1.26
-0.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.84
$1.79 €1.54
6.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.88
$2.29 €1.97
-9.17%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$30.68
$2.05 €1.76
-13.17%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.76
$2.11 €1.81
3.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 MX$17.97
$1.18 €1.02
-11.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.60
$0.83 €0.71
30.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08 MX$70.5
$6.08 €5.24
-32.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.32 MX$178
$4.75 €4.09
117.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.59
$1.27 €1.09
34.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 MX$44.50
$2.49 €2.14
3.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Rio de Mouro
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$8.81
$2.22 €1.91
-77.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.46 MX$457
$46.65 €40.16
-43.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.26 MX$56.4
$3.74 €3.22
-12.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.49 MX$43.05
$0.81 €0.70
207.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 MX$56.1
$17.59 €15.15
-81.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$22.59
$2.02 €1.74
-35.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K MX$523.2K
$34.2K €29.4K
-11.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$404.9K
$39.4K €33.9K
-40.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Rio de Mouro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 MX$1,432
$103 €88.4
-19.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22 MX$384
$21.35 €18.38
4.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34 MX$507
$43.99 €37.87
-33.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Rio de Mouro
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$892
$40.73 €35.06
26.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32 MX$317
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$87.5
$7.94 €6.84
-36.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Rio de Mouro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$201 MX$3,470
$641 €552
-68.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,212 MX$90.1K
$7,398 €6,369
-29.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Rio de Mouro
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92 MX$638
$70.3 €60.5
-47.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79 MX$688
$46.46 €39.99
-14.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 MX$1,356
$70.8 €61.0
10.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 MX$1,505
$58.1 €49.99
49.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Rio de Mouro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 MX$16.8K
$930 €800
4.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 MX$8,082
$629 €542
-25.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 MX$28.4K
$802 €691
104.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,221 MX$21.1K
$1,414 €1,218
-13.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,946 MX$68.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,498 MX$112.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Rio de Mouro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$664 MX$11.5K
$897 €772
-25.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
5.01
127.94%

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 Rio de Mouro: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $930 in Rio de Mouro. 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 35% higher in Rio de Mouro, 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 $57.0 in Rio de Mouro. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Playa del Carmen vs $233 in Rio de Mouro – so Rio de Mouro wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Rio de Mouro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rio de Mouro cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Rio de Mouro is pricier by about 15%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,233 in Rio de Mouro. 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 Playa del Carmen, 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 Rio de Mouro?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $1,489 in Rio de Mouro. 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 76% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Rio de Mouro?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Rio de Mouro at $1,489. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rio de Mouro it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Rio de Mouro more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Rio de Mouro?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rio de Mouro makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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