😐A single person spends $1,271 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,028 in Westonaria, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,126 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,598 in Westonaria, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,980 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,168 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
$11.87MX$204
$8.24R 133
44.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.90MX$736
$34.10R 551
25.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65MX$183
$4.62R 74.7
130.52%
Cappuccino
$3.45MX$59.2
$1.60R 25.95
115.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50MX$25.81
$1.06R 17.13
41.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95MX$16.28
$0.83R 13.34
14.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$51.9
$1.67R 26.93
81.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$79.1
$2.45R 39.55
88.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Westonaria
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38MX$23.61
$1.19R 19.18
15.97%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85MX$31.70
$1.02R 16.53
81.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.65
$1.62R 26.21
-0.62%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.51
$2.40R 38.83
7.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.26MX$142
$7.91R 128
4.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37MX$144
$4.53R 73.2
84.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.66MX$183
$6.34R 102
68.14%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63MX$45.12
$1.63R 26.29
61.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.53
$1.55R 25.02
-3.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92MX$32.94
$1.66R 26.86
15.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.81
$1.62R 26.25
29.01%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$31.88
$1.36R 22.03
36.76%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.81
$1.22R 19.69
85.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06MX$18.23
$1.12R 18.17
-5.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.67
$1.13R 18.19
-3.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15MX$71.2
$2.88R 46.48
44.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.39MX$178
$5.31R 85.8
95.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.59
$1.51R 24.36
13.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$44.85
$1.78R 28.75
46.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Westonaria
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.30
$1.70R 27.42
-68.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.94MX$462
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$53.7
$1.37R 22.07
128.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.51MX$43.09
$1.38R 22.27
81.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15MX$54.1
$3.11R 50.4
1.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$21.88
$1.28R 20.64
-0.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KMX$521.3K
$19.0KR 307.8K
59.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$404.5K
$26.1KR 421.5K
-9.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Westonaria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0MX$1,425
$122R 1,977
-32.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71MX$390
$36.81R 595
-38.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$506
$38.87R 628
-24.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Westonaria
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.0MX$875
$31.47R 509
62.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.33MX$315
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.93MX$84.5
$4.99R 80.6
-1.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Westonaria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$197MX$3,386
$197R 3,190
-0.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,280MX$90.6K
$4,361R 70.5K
21.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Westonaria
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90MX$633
$51.1R 826
-27.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.89MX$685
$32.68R 528
22.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.0MX$1,373
$86.4R 1,397
-7.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5MX$1,536
$89.8R 1,452
-0.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Westonaria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$956MX$16.4K
$358R 5,791
166.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$477MX$8,189
$338R 5,468
41.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,646MX$28.3K
$674R 10.9K
144.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225MX$21.0K
$690R 11.1K
77.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,918MX$67.2K
$775R 12.5K
405.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,459MX$110.9K
$618R 9,995
944.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Westonaria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667MX$11.4K
-
-
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Westonaria: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $956 in Playa del Carmen versus $358 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: $250 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 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 $1,906 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,542 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 $1,271 in Playa del Carmen and $1,028 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 $197 per month in Playa del Carmen and $197 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 $1,028, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,271. 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