😐A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,001 in Westonaria, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,578 in Westonaria, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,155 in Westonaria, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 29% more than Westonaria, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Westonaria are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen4% lower, Westonaria25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Westonaria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$8.57R 144
39.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$33.92R 569
26.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$4.63R 77.6
128.73%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$1.53R 25.71
136.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$1.06R 17.74
38.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$0.82R 13.72
14.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$1.67R 27.93
85.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$2.48R 41.63
79.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Westonaria
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.25R 21.00
14.40%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$1.03R 17.23
82.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$1.58R 26.47
3.16%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$2.38R 39.87
10.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$7.59R 127
8.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$4.55R 76.3
82.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$6.51R 109
70.51%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$1.62R 27.25
63.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$1.60R 26.75
-6.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$1.61R 26.98
23.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$1.63R 27.32
27.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$1.36R 22.77
31.62%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$1.16R 19.44
87.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$1.14R 19.05
-5.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$1.13R 18.87
-7.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$2.82R 47.21
40.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$5.07R 85.0
101.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$1.57R 26.38
10.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$1.86R 31.27
34.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Westonaria
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$1.67R 27.98
-68.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$1.36R 22.81
130.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$1.34R 22.44
79.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$3.07R 51.4
0.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$1.28R 21.46
-0.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$19.6KR 328.9K
57.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$25.6KR 429.7K
-9.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Westonaria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$126R 2,111
-34.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$37.25R 625
-39.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$38.06R 638
-22.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Westonaria
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$30.83R 517
68.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$5.14R 86.2
-3.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Westonaria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$194R 3,255
1.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$4,355R 73.0K
21.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Westonaria
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$49.73R 834
-26.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$32.44R 544
23.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$87.0R 1,459
-8.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$88.2R 1,479
0.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Westonaria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$361R 6,047
167.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$336R 5,641
38.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$676R 11.3K
136.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$700R 11.7K
72.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$832R 14.0K
373.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
$685R 11.5K
842.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Westonaria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
11.69
-2.31%
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 Westonaria: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $361 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 $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $34.00 in Westonaria. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $182 – 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 29%, 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 $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,502 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 vs Westonaria?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,287 in Playa del Carmen and $1,001 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 $198 per month in Playa del Carmen and $194 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 Playa del Carmen or Westonaria?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Westonaria, where all-in costs run around $1,001, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. 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