Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Solan

For one person, living is cheaper in Solan: $366 a month against $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $10,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Solan, India
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Solan
🇮🇳 India
$366
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Solan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,204 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $366 in Solan, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $1,204
  • Solan $366

A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $590 in Solan, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,082
  • Solan $590

A family of three spends $2,959 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $815 in Solan, rent included.

  • Playa del Carmen $2,959
  • Solan $815

Playa del Carmen costs about 229% more than Solan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Playa del Carmen and Solan are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen 12% lower, Solan 73% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Solan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.92 MX$204
$1.30 ₹124
740.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.37 MX$808
$15.48 ₹1,474
180.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.78 MX$220
$3.18 ₹303
270.44%
Cappuccino
$3.81 MX$71.0
$1.98 ₹189
92.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$23.90
$0.34 ₹31.94
276.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 MX$14.59
$0.12 ₹11.64
550.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.17 MX$59.0
$2.07 ₹197
53.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 MX$92.0
$2.55 ₹243
93.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Solan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 MX$26.22
$0.44 ₹41.69
220.45%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 MX$41.33
$0.53 ₹50.8
318.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 MX$26.42
$0.41 ₹38.85
246.34%
Eggs
$2.52 MX$47.03
$0.74 ₹70.3
240.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.26 MX$135
$5.30 ₹505
36.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 MX$143
$2.33 ₹222
230.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 MX$237
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 MX$51.9
$1.86 ₹177
49.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MX$25.50
$0.80 ₹75.8
71.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 MX$47.55
$0.52 ₹49.14
390.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$39.58
$0.49 ₹46.91
332.65%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.13
$0.33 ₹31.81
487.88%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.16
$0.44 ₹41.65
329.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 MX$21.37
$0.59 ₹56.6
94.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 MX$21.98
$0.31 ₹29.07
280.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 MX$80.1
$2.86 ₹272
50.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.95 MX$185
$7.22 ₹687
37.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 MX$29.52
$1.66 ₹158
-4.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 MX$49.79
$2.65 ₹252
0.75%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.50 ₹524
-
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Solan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$10.31
$0.21 ₹19.93
161.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.62 MX$496
$7.93 ₹755
235.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 MX$92.6
$1.03 ₹97.7
382.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.33 MX$62.1
$0.27 ₹25.94
1133.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 MX$99.8
$2.12 ₹202
152.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 MX$26.92
$1.02 ₹97.4
41.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K MX$385.2K
$11.3K ₹1.1M
82.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$437.4K
$24.5K ₹2.3M
-4.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Solan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.8 MX$1,581
$38.76 ₹3,690
118.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41 MX$436
$2.67 ₹255
776.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.66 MX$534
$7.47 ₹711
283.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Solan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,063
$14.05 ₹1,338
306.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.91 MX$539
$6.43 ₹612
349.61%
Cinema Ticket
$5.14 MX$95.8
$2.05 ₹196
150.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Solan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 MX$3,851
$46.15 ₹4,395
347.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,927 MX$73.2K
$1,730 ₹164.7K
127.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Solan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.35 MX$808
$20.61 ₹1,963
110.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.44 MX$772
$24.64 ₹2,346
68.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 MX$1,383
$46.59 ₹4,436
59.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 MX$1,664
$26.47 ₹2,521
237.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Solan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$980 MX$18.3K
$106 ₹10.0K
828.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$381 MX$7,099
$76.9 ₹7,324
395.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,708 MX$31.8K
$289 ₹27.5K
491.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,075 MX$20.0K
$180 ₹17.1K
497.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,943 MX$73.5K
$897 ₹85.4K
339.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,158 MX$114.8K
$519 ₹49.4K
1086.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Solan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$735 MX$13.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
9.12
25.55%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Last update for Solan: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
$381
Solan
$77 79.8% $304
Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
$255
Solan
$96 62.2% $158
Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
$202
Solan
$61 69.8% $141
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
$137
Solan
$49 64.3% $88
Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
$112
Solan
$53 52.3% $58
Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
$67
Solan
$18 73% $49
Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
$50
Solan
$11 77.9% $39

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $980 in Playa del Carmen versus $106 in Solan. 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 $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $15 in Solan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $255 vs $96 – making Solan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🇮🇳 Solan
🕒 Local time
12:45 12:45 PM
23:15 11:15 PM
10 h 30 min ahead of Playa del Carmen
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
149,923
39,256
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.75 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 95.22 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 106 INR (1,000 INR = 9.43 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Playa del Carmen Solan 14,040 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Solan

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 Solan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Solan cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 229%, 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 $1,806 per month in Playa del Carmen and $549 in Solan. 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 Solan, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $106 there versus $980 in Playa del Carmen.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Solan?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,204 in Playa del Carmen and $366 in Solan. That’s a gap of about 229%.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 70% less in Solan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Solan?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Solan, where all-in costs run around $366, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,204. In Solan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Solan more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Solan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Solan is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and the 229% gap matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared

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