😐A single person spends $1,266 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,144 in Westonaria, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,279 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,769 in Westonaria, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,393 in Westonaria, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 11% more than Westonaria, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Westonaria are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen7% lower, Westonaria16% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Westonaria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60MX$200
$9.29R 151
24.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.11MX$811
$37.35R 607
26.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.88MX$205
$5.65R 91.8
110.27%
Cappuccino
$3.98MX$68.5
$1.80R 29.24
121.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43MX$24.57
$1.09R 17.67
31.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.20
$0.86R 13.94
-4.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19MX$54.9
$1.83R 29.66
74.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.79MX$117
$2.88R 46.85
135.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Westonaria
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68MX$28.85
$1.25R 20.31
34.40%
White Bread(500g)
$2.20MX$37.83
$1.18R 19.11
86.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.41
$1.90R 30.91
-10.00%
Eggs
$2.74MX$47.20
$2.52R 40.86
8.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.58MX$165
$8.53R 139
12.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.01MX$155
$5.23R 85.0
72.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.81MX$221
$7.54R 122
69.89%
Apples(1kg)
$2.89MX$49.74
$1.93R 31.39
49.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$25.78
$1.73R 28.14
-13.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15MX$36.98
$1.77R 28.77
21.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.91
$1.66R 27.02
36.14%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98MX$34.10
$1.16R 18.90
70.69%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.26
$1.20R 19.52
65.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23MX$21.25
$1.22R 19.85
0.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.60
$1.38R 22.42
-13.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.55MX$78.3
$3.34R 54.2
36.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37MX$179
$5.34R 86.7
94.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.88
$1.65R 26.73
-1.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$49.60
$1.97R 31.93
46.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Westonaria
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MX$10.34
$1.60R 25.94
-62.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.80MX$496
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.8
$0.30R 4.85
1696.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.73MX$64.2
$0.79R 12.76
372.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.77MX$99.3
$14.91R 242
-61.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.45
$1.55R 25.22
-0.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$388.3K
$37.2KR 604.2K
-39.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KMX$448.7K
$34.7KR 564.5K
-25.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Westonaria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.4MX$1,573
$155R 2,519
-41.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.20MX$434
$38.54R 626
-34.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.24MX$538
$38.79R 630
-19.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Westonaria
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2MX$1,157
$33.14R 538
102.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.11MX$501
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MX$83.7
$7.69R 125
-36.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Westonaria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$224MX$3,851
$275R 4,461
-18.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,229MX$72.8K
$5,726R 93.0K
-26.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Westonaria
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.10MX$811
$54.9R 892
-14.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.29MX$763
$32.88R 534
34.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1MX$1,379
$96.6R 1,569
-17.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7MX$1,596
$85.9R 1,396
7.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Westonaria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063MX$18.3K
$435R 7,063
144.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390MX$6,719
$379R 6,163
2.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,149MX$37.0K
$803R 13.0K
167.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,272MX$21.9K
$786R 12.8K
61.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,001MX$68.9K
$904R 14.7K
342.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,502MX$112.0K
$686R 11.1K
848.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Westonaria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$758MX$13.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
11.34
0.97%
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 Westonaria: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Playa del Carmen versus $435 in Westonaria. 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $37.00 in Westonaria. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $202 – making Westonaria 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 Westonaria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Westonaria cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 11%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,717 in Westonaria. 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 Westonaria, 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 Westonaria?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,266 in Playa del Carmen and $1,144 in Westonaria. 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 $275 in Westonaria. 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 Westonaria?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Westonaria, where all-in costs run around $1,144, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,266. In Westonaria it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Westonaria more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Westonaria – 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 Westonaria. 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