🙂A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,333 in Roodepoort, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,907 in Roodepoort, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,481 in Roodepoort, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 3% cheaper than Roodepoort, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Roodepoort are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen3% lower, Roodepoort1% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Roodepoort
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73MX$203
$11.08R 180
5.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.62MX$720
$45.62R 741
-8.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.64MX$184
$4.69R 76.2
126.87%
Cappuccino
$3.52MX$60.9
$2.10R 34.12
67.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.12
$0.99R 16.05
52.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97MX$16.84
$0.81R 13.21
19.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.0
$2.21R 35.98
33.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MX$77.0
$2.45R 39.87
81.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Roodepoort
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.93
$1.21R 19.62
14.05%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89MX$32.72
$1.05R 17.10
80.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MX$28.32
$1.71R 27.78
-4.09%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.34
$2.53R 41.06
-0.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$8.08R 131
3.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.34MX$144
$4.77R 77.5
74.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73MX$186
$6.76R 110
58.73%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60MX$45.04
$1.71R 27.78
52.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MX$25.20
$1.54R 25.07
-5.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.87
$1.66R 26.95
14.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.91
$1.61R 26.24
29.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78MX$30.71
$1.37R 22.30
29.93%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.80
$1.36R 22.09
61.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04MX$17.99
$1.14R 18.54
-8.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.62
$1.17R 19.01
-7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08MX$70.6
$2.88R 46.79
41.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32MX$178
$5.25R 85.4
96.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.61
$1.31R 21.30
30.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58MX$44.54
$1.60R 25.96
61.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Roodepoort
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.81
$1.68R 27.26
-69.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.46MX$458
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.26MX$56.4
$1.10R 17.87
196.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.49MX$43.09
$0.89R 14.42
179.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.25MX$56.2
$3.12R 50.7
4.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.61
$1.27R 20.58
3.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KMX$523.7K
$19.2KR 311.8K
57.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KMX$405.3K
$23.6KR 383.7K
-0.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Roodepoort
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.9MX$1,433
$126R 2,046
-34.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.22MX$384
$37.73R 613
-41.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34MX$507
$43.33R 704
-32.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Roodepoort
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6MX$893
$38.63R 628
33.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.32MX$317
$10.19R 166
79.78%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MX$87.6
$7.22R 117
-29.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Roodepoort
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,473
$208R 3,372
-3.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,212MX$90.1K
$4,869R 79.1K
7.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Roodepoort
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.92MX$639
$50.5R 820
-26.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.79MX$688
$31.61R 514
25.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MX$1,357
$88.1R 1,431
-10.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1MX$1,506
$80.2R 1,303
8.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Roodepoort
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973MX$16.8K
$562R 9,129
73.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$468MX$8,090
$605R 9,833
-22.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,641MX$28.4K
$1,414R 23.0K
16.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221MX$21.1K
$875R 14.2K
39.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,946MX$68.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,498MX$112.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Roodepoort
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$664MX$11.5K
$1,563R 25.4K
-57.53%
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: June 2, 2026
Last update for Roodepoort: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $562 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 135% 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 $46.00 in Roodepoort. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Playa del Carmen vs $186 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 3%, 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 $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,000 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 vs Roodepoort?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $1,333 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 $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $208 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 Playa del Carmen or Roodepoort?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Roodepoort at $1,333. 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