Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Vazquez de Coronado Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Vazquez de Coronado

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,294 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,498 in Vazquez de Coronado, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,189 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,193 in Vazquez de Coronado, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,084 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,888 in Vazquez de Coronado, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 14% cheaper than Vazquez de Coronado, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 3% below the global median, while Vazquez de Coronado is 12% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Vazquez de Coronado
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.73 MX$204
$8.15 ₡3,673
43.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.78 MX$725
$30.33 ₡13.7K
37.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.41 MX$181
$10.06 ₡4,531
3.48%
Cappuccino
$3.61 MX$62.6
$3.02 ₡1,363
19.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 MX$25.28
$1.95 ₡878
-25.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 MX$16.84
$1.57 ₡708
-38.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 MX$50.8
$2.95 ₡1,328
-1.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62 MX$80.2
$2.96 ₡1,334
56.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Vazquez de Coronado
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MX$24.80
$1.98 ₡892
-27.78%
White Bread (500g)
$1.90 MX$32.98
$1.01 ₡454
88.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 MX$27.18
$2.03 ₡913
-22.66%
Eggs
$2.64 MX$45.73
$2.83 ₡1,276
-6.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.44 MX$146
$9.90 ₡4,461
-14.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.58 MX$149
$9.20 ₡4,143
-6.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.00 MX$191
$13.47 ₡6,069
-18.34%
Apples (1kg)
$2.70 MX$46.91
$4.05 ₡1,826
-33.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 MX$26.15
$1.44 ₡648
4.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.91 MX$33.22
$4.21 ₡1,899
-54.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.69
$2.03 ₡916
6.90%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.53
$1.96 ₡885
-4.59%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 MX$38.76
$3.21 ₡1,445
-30.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 MX$18.76
$0.48 ₡216
125.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$18.63
$2.80 ₡1,261
-61.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16 MX$72.2
$5.29 ₡2,384
-21.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.29 MX$179
$22.30 ₡10.0K
-53.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$29.20
$2.51 ₡1,130
-33.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 MX$43.96
$2.84 ₡1,281
-10.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Vazquez de Coronado
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MX$9.61
$1.01 ₡456
-45.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.29 MX$456
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.20 MX$55.5
$1.29 ₡582
148.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.46 MX$42.73
$1.20 ₡543
105.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.20 MX$55.5
$7.92 ₡3,567
-59.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 MX$22.91
$1.41 ₡634
-6.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K MX$523.3K
$37.9K ₡17.1M
-20.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$406.0K
$33.1K ₡14.9M
-29.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Vazquez de Coronado
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.4 MX$1,412
$69.2 ₡31.2K
17.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.41 MX$389
$26.02 ₡11.7K
-13.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.97 MX$520
$59.4 ₡26.8K
-49.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Vazquez de Coronado
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 MX$895
$56.4 ₡25.4K
-8.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 MX$319
$23.57 ₡10.6K
-21.98%
Cinema Ticket
$5.16 MX$89.6
$4.00 ₡1,801
29.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Vazquez de Coronado
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$202 MX$3,501
$572 ₡257.9K
-64.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,311 MX$92.2K
$12.8K ₡5.8M
-58.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Vazquez de Coronado
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.61 MX$618
$63.7 ₡28.7K
-44.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.37 MX$701
$51.8 ₡23.4K
-22.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.6 MX$1,365
$126 ₡56.5K
-37.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.9 MX$1,507
$106 ₡47.9K
-18.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Vazquez de Coronado
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$950 MX$16.5K
$774 ₡348.6K
22.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$478 MX$8,298
$591 ₡266.4K
-19.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,621 MX$28.1K
$1,500 ₡676.0K
8.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,223 MX$21.2K
$964 ₡434.5K
26.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,009 MX$69.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,473 MX$112.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Vazquez de Coronado
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$673 MX$11.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.42
10.17
12.29%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 15, 2026

Last update for Vazquez de Coronado: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $950 in Playa del Carmen versus $774 in Vazquez de Coronado. 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 $30.00 in Vazquez de Coronado. Groceries tell a different story – $254 in Playa del Carmen vs $332 in Vazquez de Coronado – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Vazquez de Coronado: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vazquez de Coronado cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Vazquez de Coronado is pricier by about 16%, 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 $1,941 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,247 in Vazquez de Coronado. 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 and in Vazquez de Coronado?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,294 in Playa del Carmen and $1,498 in Vazquez de Coronado. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $202 per month in Playa del Carmen and $572 in Vazquez de Coronado. 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 Vazquez de Coronado?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,294, than in Vazquez de Coronado at $1,498. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vazquez de Coronado it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Vazquez de Coronado 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 Vazquez de Coronado?
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, Vazquez de Coronado makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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