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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $566 in Riobamba, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,126 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $882 in Riobamba, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,980 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,198 in Riobamba, rent included.

Playa del Carmen costs about 125% more than Riobamba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Playa del Carmen and Riobamba are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 5% lower, Riobamba 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.87 MX$204

$3.43 $3.43

246.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.90 MX$736

$14.74 $14.74

191.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.65 MX$183

$6.68 $6.68

59.43%

Cappuccino

$3.45 MX$59.2

$2.00 $2.00

72.50%

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

$1.50 MX$25.81

$0.76 $0.76

97.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 MX$16.28

$0.64 $0.64

48.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 MX$51.9

$1.53 $1.53

98.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 MX$79.1

$2.49 $2.49

85.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.61

$1.01 $1.01

36.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.85 MX$31.70

$1.71 $1.71

8.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 MX$27.65

$0.82 $0.82

96.34%

Eggs

$2.59 MX$44.51

$1.69 $1.69

53.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 MX$142

$2.04 $2.04

304.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.37 MX$144

$3.22 $3.22

159.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.66 MX$183

$4.84 $4.84

120.25%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 MX$45.12

$1.47 $1.47

78.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 MX$25.53

$0.51 $0.51

192.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 MX$32.94

$1.17 $1.17

64.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.09 MX$35.81

$1.02 $1.02

104.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$31.88

$0.77 $0.77

141.56%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 MX$38.81

$0.88 $0.88

156.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 MX$18.23

$0.47 $0.47

125.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MX$18.67

$0.98 $0.98

11.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.15 MX$71.2

$5.88 $5.88

-29.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.39 MX$178

$5.69 $5.69

82.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 MX$29.59

$1.50 $1.50

14.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 MX$44.85

$3.19 $3.19

-18.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.30

$0.29 $0.29

86.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.94 MX$462

$24.01 $24.01

12.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.13 MX$53.7

$0.63 $0.63

396.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.51 MX$43.09

$0.97 $0.97

158.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 MX$54.1

$13.62 $13.62

-76.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 MX$21.88

$0.63 $0.63

101.59%

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

$30.4K MX$521.3K

$29.8K $29.8K

1.92%

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

$23.6K MX$404.5K

$28.2K $28.2K

-16.31%

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

$83.0 MX$1,425

$19.73 $19.73

320.68%

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

$22.71 MX$390

$7.03 $7.03

223.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.46 MX$506

$30.66 $30.66

-3.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.0 MX$875

$25.23 $25.23

102.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.33 MX$315

$14.43 $14.43

27.03%

Cinema Ticket

$4.93 MX$84.5

$5.92 $5.92

-16.72%

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

$197 MX$3,386

$78.8 $78.8

150.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,280 MX$90.6K

$1,466 $1,466

260.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.90 MX$633

$49.34 $49.34

-25.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.89 MX$685

$49.73 $49.73

-19.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.0 MX$1,373

$97.2 $97.2

-17.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.5 MX$1,536

$65.7 $65.7

36.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$956 MX$16.4K

$116 $116

722.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$477 MX$8,189

$96.2 $96.2

395.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,646 MX$28.3K

$228 $228

620.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,225 MX$21.0K

$188 $188

552.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,918 MX$67.2K

$1,196 $1,196

227.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,459 MX$110.9K

$781 $781

726.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$667 MX$11.4K

$327 $327

103.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

11.48

-0.52%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026

Last update for Riobamba: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $116 in Riobamba. 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 104% 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $15.00 in Riobamba. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 vs $137 – making Riobamba 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 Riobamba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 125%, 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 $1,906 per month in Playa del Carmen and $848 in Riobamba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Riobamba, 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 $1,271 in Playa del Carmen and $566 in Riobamba. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 12% less in Riobamba. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Riobamba, where all-in costs run around $566, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. In Riobamba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Riobamba – 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 Riobamba. 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.