😐A single person spends $1,256 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $406 in Siddharthanagar, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,137 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $647 in Siddharthanagar, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,017 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $887 in Siddharthanagar, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 209% more than Siddharthanagar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Siddharthanagar are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen6% lower, Siddharthanagar70% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Siddharthanagar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.99MX$209
$1.86NPR 288
544.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78MX$728
$10.81NPR 1,668
286.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75MX$187
$6.67NPR 1,028
61.17%
Cappuccino
$3.50MX$60.9
$1.77NPR 272
97.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.22
$0.34NPR 52.8
326.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88MX$15.41
$0.18NPR 27.07
388.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95MX$51.3
$2.65NPR 408
11.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51MX$78.6
$3.09NPR 476
45.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Siddharthanagar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$0.43NPR 66.6
232.56%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84MX$31.99
$0.30NPR 46.45
513.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57MX$27.31
$0.42NPR 64.2
273.81%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.74
$1.66NPR 257
51.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.28MX$144
$5.49NPR 847
50.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$2.97NPR 457
183.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68MX$186
$2.27NPR 351
370.48%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61MX$45.43
$2.18NPR 335
19.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MX$25.04
$0.63NPR 97.9
128.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.16
$1.08NPR 166
81.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$36.47
$0.41NPR 63.5
409.76%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.24
$0.23NPR 34.91
704.35%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.74
$0.42NPR 65.2
416.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MX$17.96
$0.49NPR 76.1
110.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.70
$0.25NPR 38.63
328.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10MX$71.4
$1.42NPR 219
188.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.17MX$177
$9.05NPR 1,396
12.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.17
$2.24NPR 346
-25.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53MX$43.98
$3.26NPR 502
-22.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Siddharthanagar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MX$8.87
$0.18NPR 27.41
183.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.04MX$453
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.3
$2.23NPR 345
44.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.41MX$41.88
$1.11NPR 171
117.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.23MX$56.2
$3.67NPR 565
-11.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MX$23.00
$1.24NPR 190
6.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KMX$517.1K
$32.1KNPR 4.9M
-7.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$412.0K
$41.2KNPR 6.4M
-42.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Siddharthanagar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,428
$33.24NPR 5,126
146.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.95MX$400
$4.91NPR 757
367.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.11MX$524
$9.48NPR 1,461
217.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Siddharthanagar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$905
$18.50NPR 2,853
180.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53MX$323
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MX$86.6
$3.23NPR 498
54.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Siddharthanagar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,438
$90.8NPR 14.0K
117.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,336MX$92.9K
$3,838NPR 591.9K
39.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Siddharthanagar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.60MX$620
$25.13NPR 3,875
41.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.33MX$702
$28.15NPR 4,341
43.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8MX$1,371
$57.4NPR 8,846
37.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,549
$39.87NPR 6,148
123.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Siddharthanagar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947MX$16.5K
$103NPR 16.0K
815.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MX$8,254
$64.9NPR 10.0K
630.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,644MX$28.6K
$206NPR 31.8K
696.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211MX$21.1K
$143NPR 22.1K
745.27%
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
Siddharthanagar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$654MX$11.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
12.08
-5.46%
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 Siddharthanagar: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $947 in Playa del Carmen versus $103 in Siddharthanagar. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $11.00 in Siddharthanagar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $117 – making Siddharthanagar 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 Siddharthanagar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Siddharthanagar cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 209%, 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 $610 in Siddharthanagar. 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 Siddharthanagar, 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 Siddharthanagar?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,256 in Playa del Carmen and $406 in Siddharthanagar. 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 $90.8 in Siddharthanagar. 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 Siddharthanagar?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Siddharthanagar, where all-in costs run around $406, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. In Siddharthanagar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Siddharthanagar more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Siddharthanagar – 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 Siddharthanagar. 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.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared