Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Seki

For one person, living is cheaper in Seki: $750 a month against $1,202 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $5,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Seki, Azerbaijan
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,202
/mo nomad
Seki
🇦🇿 Azerbaijan
$750
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Playa del Carmen and in Seki

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Playa del Carmen and in Seki actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,202 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $750 in Seki, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,202
  • Seki $750

A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,240 in Seki, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Seki $1,240

A family of three spends $2,962 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,730 in Seki, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,962
  • Seki $1,730

Playa del Carmen costs about 60% more than Seki, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Playa del Carmen and Seki are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 11% lower, Seki 45% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Seki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.67 MX$199
$10.68 ₼18.14
-0.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.80 MX$815
$39.05 ₼66.4
12.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.79 MX$219
$7.94 ₼13.50
48.49%
Cappuccino
$3.79 MX$70.5
$3.61 ₼6.14
4.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 MX$24.14
$1.05 ₼1.78
23.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 MX$15.51
$0.54 ₼0.92
53.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 MX$58.6
$1.71 ₼2.91
84.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$91.8
$3.01 ₼5.12
63.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Seki
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.22
$1.53 ₼2.60
-7.84%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 MX$40.86
$0.52 ₼0.89
323.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.47 MX$27.40
$2.46 ₼4.18
-40.24%
Eggs
$2.50 MX$46.46
$2.03 ₼3.45
23.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.29 MX$136
$5.28 ₼8.98
38.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.95 MX$148
$5.28 ₼8.97
50.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.86 MX$239
$11.70 ₼19.88
9.91%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 MX$53.9
$1.40 ₼2.38
107.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 MX$25.74
$1.89 ₼3.20
-26.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.49 MX$46.35
$1.66 ₼2.83
50.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 MX$37.77
$1.82 ₼3.10
11.54%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$37.68
$0.72 ₼1.23
180.56%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 MX$35.42
$0.61 ₼1.03
211.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.14 MX$21.30
$0.72 ₼1.23
58.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 MX$23.05
$0.78 ₼1.33
58.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$79.5
$2.96 ₼5.03
44.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.81 MX$183
$8.65 ₼14.70
13.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 MX$29.51
$1.56 ₼2.65
1.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 MX$51.1
$2.80 ₼4.77
-1.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Seki
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 MX$9.58
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.39 MX$510
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.76 MX$88.6
$2.10 ₼3.57
126.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.25 MX$60.5
$0.61 ₼1.04
432.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$100
$3.51 ₼5.97
53.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 MX$28.44
$0.70 ₼1.20
118.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K MX$394.8K
$23.3K ₼39.6K
-8.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3K MX$432.9K
$22.7K ₼38.6K
2.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Seki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.5 MX$1,554
$23.88 ₼40.58
249.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.19 MX$431
$9.00 ₼15.29
157.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.61 MX$514
$11.36 ₼19.30
143.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Seki
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.4 MX$1,050
$17.31 ₼29.41
226.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.19 MX$525
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.00 MX$93.1
$5.63 ₼9.57
-11.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Seki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,854
$329 ₼559
-37.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,231 MX$97.3K
$11.1K ₼18.8K
-52.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Seki
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.45 MX$809
$65.1 ₼111
-33.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.54 MX$792
$55.1 ₼93.7
-22.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.8 MX$1,354
$122 ₼207
-40.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 MX$1,645
$113 ₼192
-21.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Seki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$995 MX$18.5K
$220 ₼374
352.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$382 MX$7,116
$143 ₼243
167.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,674 MX$31.2K
$445 ₼757
276.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,081 MX$20.1K
$255 ₼433
323.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,909 MX$72.7K
$650 ₼1,105
501.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,138 MX$114.2K
$358 ₼608
1615.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Seki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$832 MX$15.5K
$250 ₼425
232.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
9.5
20.53%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: November 2, 2026

Last update for Seki: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$382
Seki
$143 62.7% $240
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$257
Seki
$196 23.8% $61
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$200
Seki
$174 13.3% $27
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$134
Seki
$44 67.1% $90
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$111
Seki
$160 43.6% $49
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$66
Seki
$29 57% $38
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Seki
$5.2 * 89.8% $45

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $995 in Playa del Carmen versus $220 in Seki. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Playa del Carmen are about 3.3 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44 in Playa del Carmen versus $39 in Seki. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $257 vs $196 – making Seki the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇦🇿 Seki
🕒 Local time
08:42 8:42 AM
17:42 5:42 PM
9 h ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
68,400
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

AZN, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 18.61 MXN (100 MXN = 5.37 USD). 1 EUR = 20.83 MXN (100 MXN = 4.8 EUR).

Azerbaijani Manat exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 1.7 AZN (1 AZN = 0.588 USD). 1 EUR = 1.9 AZN (1 AZN = 0.526 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Seki 11,660 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Seki

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Seki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Seki cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 60%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,804 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,125 in Seki. 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 Seki, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $220 there versus $995 in Playa del Carmen.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Seki?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,202 in Playa del Carmen and $750 in Seki. That makes Seki about 38% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $207 per month in Playa del Carmen and $329 in Seki. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,200 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Seki?
A $1,200 monthly budget goes further in Seki, where all-in costs run around $750, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,202. In Seki it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is it better to live in Playa del Carmen or in Seki?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $750 in Seki to $1,202 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Seki. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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