😐A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $311 in Siddharthanagar, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $480 in Siddharthanagar, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $650 in Siddharthanagar, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 307% more than Siddharthanagar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Siddharthanagar are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen7% lower, Siddharthanagar77% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Siddharthanagar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$199
$1.98NPR 304
485.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$809
$9.66NPR 1,482
387.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$204
$7.99NPR 1,226
48.69%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.2
$1.54NPR 237
158.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.49
$0.32NPR 48.45
346.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.16
$0.17NPR 25.84
382.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$54.7
$3.20NPR 491
-0.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$2.81NPR 431
141.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Siddharthanagar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.76
$0.51NPR 77.8
229.41%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.71
$0.27NPR 41.58
714.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.32
$0.41NPR 62.8
317.07%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.05
$1.35NPR 207
102.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$164
$4.90NPR 751
95.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$2.64NPR 406
241.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$220
$2.14NPR 328
498.60%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.58
$2.10NPR 322
37.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.70
$0.54NPR 82.8
177.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.87
$1.00NPR 153
115.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.79
$0.47NPR 72.9
380.85%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.00
$0.27NPR 41.66
633.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.15
$0.31NPR 48.24
541.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.18
$0.49NPR 74.8
151.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.54
$0.23NPR 35.11
421.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.1
$2.59NPR 398
75.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$178
$7.84NPR 1,202
32.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.79
$2.25NPR 345
-28.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.44
$3.04NPR 466
-5.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Siddharthanagar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.30
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$494
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.5
$1.97NPR 302
173.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.0
$1.35NPR 206
176.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.0
$3.30NPR 506
74.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.37
$1.40NPR 214
10.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$387.0K
$29.7KNPR 4.6M
-24.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$447.3K
$35.9KNPR 5.5M
-27.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Siddharthanagar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,569
$31.90NPR 4,894
186.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$433
$3.43NPR 526
634.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$536
$7.95NPR 1,219
292.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Siddharthanagar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,154
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$500
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.5
$2.97NPR 455
63.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Siddharthanagar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,839
$66.7NPR 10.2K
235.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.6K
$4,715NPR 723.3K
-10.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Siddharthanagar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$808
$26.57NPR 4,075
77.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$760
$28.11NPR 4,312
57.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,375
$65.0NPR 9,976
23.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,591
$29.40NPR 4,510
215.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Siddharthanagar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.2K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,698
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$36.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$68.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$111.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Siddharthanagar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
9.72
17.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026
Last update for Siddharthanagar: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $10.00 in Siddharthanagar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $108 – 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 307%, 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 $1,899 per month in Playa del Carmen and $466 in Siddharthanagar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Siddharthanagar?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $311 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 $224 per month in Playa del Carmen and $66.7 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 $311, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. 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