🙂A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,362 in Roodepoort, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,939 in Roodepoort, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,515 in Roodepoort, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 8% cheaper than Roodepoort, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Roodepoort is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Roodepoort
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$209
$11.18R 185
7.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$728
$45.01R 743
-7.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$187
$4.66R 77.0
130.69%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$60.9
$2.05R 33.81
70.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.22
$1.03R 16.96
40.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.41
$0.77R 12.78
14.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.3
$2.28R 37.60
29.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.6
$2.48R 40.98
81.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Roodepoort
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.19R 19.70
20.17%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.99
$1.06R 17.57
73.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.31
$1.64R 27.02
-4.27%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.74
$2.45R 40.37
2.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$144
$8.46R 140
-2.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$4.69R 77.4
79.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$186
$6.90R 114
54.78%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.43
$1.62R 26.66
61.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.04
$1.54R 25.45
-6.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.16
$1.68R 27.69
16.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.47
$1.62R 26.74
29.01%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.24
$1.31R 21.59
41.22%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.74
$1.42R 23.42
52.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$17.96
$1.08R 17.87
-4.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.70
$1.12R 18.46
-4.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.4
$2.77R 45.74
48.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$177
$6.23R 103
63.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.17
$1.32R 21.71
27.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.98
$1.65R 27.28
53.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Roodepoort
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.87
$1.69R 27.88
-69.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$453
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.3
$1.14R 18.89
183.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$41.88
$0.89R 14.73
170.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.2
$3.03R 49.95
6.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.00
$1.32R 21.81
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$517.1K
$19.2KR 316.9K
54.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$412.0K
$24.1KR 398.5K
-2.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Roodepoort
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,428
$124R 2,051
-34.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$400
$37.44R 618
-38.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$524
$42.69R 705
-29.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Roodepoort
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$905
$37.99R 627
36.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$323
$10.29R 170
80.08%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$86.6
$7.37R 122
-32.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Roodepoort
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,438
$211R 3,483
-6.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$92.9K
$4,931R 81.4K
8.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Roodepoort
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$620
$50.8R 838
-29.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
$31.62R 522
27.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,371
$89.4R 1,476
-11.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,549
$79.4R 1,310
12.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Roodepoort
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.5K
$571R 9,418
65.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,254
$621R 10.2K
-23.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.6K
$1,418R 23.4K
15.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.1K
$875R 14.4K
38.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,056MX$70.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,470MX$112.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Roodepoort
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
$1,562R 25.8K
-58.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
11.51
-0.78%
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 Roodepoort: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $571 in Roodepoort. 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 139% higher in Roodepoort, 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 $45.00 in Roodepoort. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Playa del Carmen vs $187 in Roodepoort – so Roodepoort 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 Roodepoort: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Roodepoort cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Roodepoort is pricier by about 8%, 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 $1,884 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,043 in Roodepoort. 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 and in Roodepoort?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $1,362 in Roodepoort. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $197 per month in Playa del Carmen and $211 in Roodepoort. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Roodepoort?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Roodepoort at $1,362. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Roodepoort it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Roodepoort 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 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, Roodepoort makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared