Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Williams Lake, BC Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Williams Lake, BC

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,072 in Williams Lake, BC, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,130 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,029 in Williams Lake, BC, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,999 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,986 in Williams Lake, BC, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 39% cheaper than Williams Lake, BC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Williams Lake, BC is 55% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.67 MX$202

$16.81 CA$23.02

-30.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.88 MX$725

$70.7 CA$96.9

-40.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.40 MX$180

$11.22 CA$15.37

-7.31%

Cappuccino

$3.61 MX$62.6

$3.71 CA$5.08

-2.70%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 MX$25.44

$2.05 CA$2.81

-28.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MX$15.79

$1.71 CA$2.35

-46.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 MX$52.5

$5.48 CA$7.51

-44.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 MX$77.4

$5.97 CA$8.18

-25.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.82

$2.46 CA$3.37

-43.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 MX$31.91

$2.74 CA$3.75

-32.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 MX$27.80

$3.52 CA$4.82

-54.26%

Eggs

$2.57 MX$44.49

$5.59 CA$7.66

-54.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.49 MX$147

$11.03 CA$15.11

-23.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.49 MX$147

$11.63 CA$15.93

-27.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.99 MX$190

$14.90 CA$20.41

-26.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 MX$47.23

$3.97 CA$5.44

-31.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MX$25.90

$1.42 CA$1.95

5.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 MX$33.91

$3.69 CA$5.05

-46.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.12 MX$36.68

$3.66 CA$5.01

-42.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 MX$32.28

$2.48 CA$3.40

-25.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.65

$2.47 CA$3.39

-12.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MX$18.58

$2.51 CA$3.44

-57.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 MX$18.17

$1.70 CA$2.33

-38.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MX$72.6

$13.75 CA$18.83

-69.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.28 MX$178

$11.25 CA$15.41

-8.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.85

$2.91 CA$3.99

-42.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 MX$43.09

$3.05 CA$4.19

-18.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MX$9.37

$2.43 CA$3.33

-77.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.27 MX$455

$63.6 CA$87.1

-58.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.10 MX$53.8

$3.21 CA$4.40

-3.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.46 MX$42.64

$1.43 CA$1.95

72.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.24 MX$56.0

$25.34 CA$34.72

-87.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 MX$21.82

$1.21 CA$1.65

4.13%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.2K MX$522.5K

$24.5K CA$33.6K

22.91%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.4K MX$406.1K

$20.3K CA$27.9K

15.22%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$84.0 MX$1,455

$140 CA$192

-39.93%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.21 MX$385

$33.18 CA$45.45

-33.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.65 MX$514

$86.1 CA$118

-65.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.6 MX$912

$41.92 CA$57.4

25.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.34 MX$318

Cinema Ticket

$4.95 MX$85.7

$11.38 CA$15.59

-56.50%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$198 MX$3,436

$733 CA$1,004

-72.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,322 MX$92.2K

$12.0K CA$16.4K

-55.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.95 MX$623

$53.9 CA$73.9

-33.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.06 MX$694

$39.73 CA$54.4

0.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 MX$1,365

$87.2 CA$119

-9.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,498

$105 CA$144

-17.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$977 MX$16.9K

$963 CA$1,319

1.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$471 MX$8,153

$915 CA$1,253

-48.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,595 MX$27.6K

$1,373 CA$1,881

16.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,215 MX$21.0K

$1,310 CA$1,795

-7.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,032 MX$69.8K

$4,983 CA$6,827

-19.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,579 MX$113.9K

$3,867 CA$5,298

70.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$714 MX$12.4K

$3,261 CA$4,468

-78.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

6.46

76.78%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 19, 2026

Last update for Williams Lake, BC: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $977 in Playa del Carmen versus $963 in Williams Lake, BC. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 357% higher in Williams Lake, BC, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42 in Playa del Carmen versus $71 in Williams Lake, BC. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $372 – making Playa del Carmen 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 Williams Lake, BC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Williams Lake, BC is pricier by about 64%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,891 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,108 in Williams Lake, BC. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,261 in Playa del Carmen and $2,072 in Williams Lake, BC. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 142% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Williams Lake, BC at $2,072. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Williams Lake, BC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Williams Lake, BC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.