🙂A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,325 in Ukmerge, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,031 in Ukmerge, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,737 in Ukmerge, rent included.
🙂Playa del Carmen is about 3% cheaper than Ukmerge, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Ukmerge are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen4% lower, Ukmerge1% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Ukmerge
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$9.25€7.92
29.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$40.76€34.89
4.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$6.90€5.91
53.48%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$3.04€2.60
19.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$2.35€2.01
-37.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$1.77€1.51
-46.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$5.86€5.02
-47.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$4.54€3.89
-1.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Ukmerge
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.38€1.18
3.62%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$1.84€1.58
2.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$1.98€1.70
-17.68%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$2.91€2.49
-9.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$10.82€9.26
-24.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$5.41€4.63
53.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$10.20€8.73
8.82%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$1.37€1.17
93.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$1.64€1.40
-8.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$1.80€1.54
10.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$3.10€2.65
-32.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$0.76€0.65
135.53%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$0.97€0.83
124.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$1.56€1.34
-30.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.81€0.69
28.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$5.48€4.69
-27.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$8.71€7.46
17.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$1.73€1.48
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$1.79€1.53
39.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Ukmerge
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$1.17€1.00
-55.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
$33.02€28.27
-18.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$4.52€3.87
-30.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$1.13€0.96
112.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$13.66€11.70
-77.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$1.64€1.40
-22.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$39.7K€34.0K
-22.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$28.7K€24.5K
-18.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Ukmerge
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$208€178
-60.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$15.87€13.59
41.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$14.66€12.55
102.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Ukmerge
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$42.08€36.02
23.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
$23.04€19.72
-18.97%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$9.01€7.71
-44.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Ukmerge
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$470€403
-57.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$10.3K€8,851
-49.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Ukmerge
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$141€120
-74.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$43.28€37.04
-7.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$84.4€72.2
-5.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$185€158
-51.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Ukmerge
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$529€453
82.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$355€304
30.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$831€712
92.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$661€566
82.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$2,618€2,241
50.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
$1,614€1,382
299.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Ukmerge
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$1,228€1,051
-41.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
4.13
176.51%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Last update for Ukmerge: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $529 in Ukmerge. 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 70% higher in Ukmerge, 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $41.00 in Ukmerge. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $231 – making Ukmerge 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 Ukmerge: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ukmerge cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Ukmerge is pricier by about 3%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,988 in Ukmerge. 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 Ukmerge?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $1,325 in Ukmerge. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 22% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Ukmerge?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,287, than in Ukmerge at $1,325. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ukmerge it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Ukmerge 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 safer, Playa del Carmen or Ukmerge?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
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, Ukmerge makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared