😐A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,017 in Westonaria, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,572 in Westonaria, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,126 in Westonaria, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 24% more than Westonaria, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Westonaria are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Westonaria24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Westonaria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$8.32R 137
40.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$725
$34.24R 564
22.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
$4.82R 79.4
118.05%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.0
$1.61R 26.57
122.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.10
$1.02R 16.85
48.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.83
$0.85R 14.06
8.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
$1.64R 26.97
80.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.3
$2.55R 42.01
72.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Westonaria
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.16
$1.25R 20.50
12.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.60
$1.07R 17.59
75.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$26.97
$1.64R 27.01
-4.88%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.14
$2.51R 41.27
3.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$7.56R 124
10.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$4.64R 76.5
79.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
$6.51R 107
66.82%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$46.93
$1.69R 27.78
60.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.04
$1.60R 26.28
-5.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.41
$1.60R 26.27
16.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.89
$1.68R 27.72
30.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.14
$1.31R 21.58
41.98%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.59
$1.17R 19.19
90.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.48
$1.08R 17.78
-0.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.79
$1.11R 18.25
-1.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.4
$2.87R 47.22
45.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$180
$5.13R 84.5
103.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.68
$1.53R 25.11
8.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.19
$1.85R 30.44
41.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Westonaria
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$1.66R 27.38
-67.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
$1.44R 23.66
113.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.61
$1.33R 21.98
80.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.1
$3.09R 50.9
1.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.69
$1.31R 21.57
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$515.7K
$19.5KR 321.1K
52.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$403.5K
$26.5KR 436.3K
-12.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Westonaria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,406
$123R 2,029
-34.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$390
$37.81R 622
-40.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$520
$38.48R 633
-21.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Westonaria
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$915
$30.52R 502
73.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$318
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.1
$4.99R 82.1
-1.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Westonaria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,474
$193R 3,185
3.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.5K
$4,342R 71.5K
19.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Westonaria
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
$51.2R 843
-29.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$694
$32.31R 532
24.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,379
$86.3R 1,420
-7.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,496
$87.5R 1,440
-1.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Westonaria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
$368R 6,051
166.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,140
$333R 5,482
41.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
$676R 11.1K
144.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.8K
$692R 11.4K
73.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.4K
$843R 13.9K
368.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.3K
$654R 10.8K
910.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Westonaria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
-
-
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Westonaria: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $368 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $34.00 in Westonaria. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $183 – 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 24%, 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 $1,890 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,525 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 $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $1,017 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 $201 per month in Playa del Carmen and $193 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 $1,017, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. 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