๐A single person spends $1,262 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,059 in Xewkija, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $2,158 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,054 in Xewkija, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $3,054 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $4,048 in Xewkija, rent included.
๐Playa del Carmen is about 39% cheaper than Xewkija, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Playa del Carmen sits 6% below the global median, while Xewkija is 53% above โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Xewkija
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.61MX$201
$20.50โฌ17.45
-43.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$742
$68.8โฌ58.6
-37.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.60MX$184
$11.65โฌ9.92
-9.01%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.3
$2.72โฌ2.31
31.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45MX$25.21
$2.70โฌ2.30
-46.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90MX$15.58
$1.99โฌ1.70
-54.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.03MX$52.6
$3.40โฌ2.89
-10.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56MX$79.2
$4.51โฌ3.84
1.11%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Xewkija
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.45MX$25.20
$1.38โฌ1.17
5.07%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83MX$31.72
$1.53โฌ1.30
19.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MX$27.92
$3.37โฌ2.87
-52.23%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.05
$3.64โฌ3.09
-30.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.54MX$148
$9.76โฌ8.31
-12.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.47MX$147
$10.95โฌ9.32
-22.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$189
$14.12โฌ12.02
-23.09%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MX$47.37
$3.36โฌ2.86
-18.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MX$25.91
$2.05โฌ1.74
-27.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94MX$33.73
$2.79โฌ2.38
-30.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.57
$3.28โฌ2.79
-34.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.85MX$32.05
$1.79โฌ1.52
3.35%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19MX$38.00
$2.81โฌ2.39
-22.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.62
$1.85โฌ1.58
-42.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.81
$1.23โฌ1.05
-12.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06MX$70.5
$6.30โฌ5.36
-35.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.46MX$182
$6.34โฌ5.39
64.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65MX$28.71
$2.29โฌ1.95
-27.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55MX$44.23
$1.85โฌ1.57
37.84%
๐ Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Xewkija
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56MX$9.65
$2.82โฌ2.40
-80.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.20MX$455
$30.34โฌ25.82
-13.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$54.5
$8.16โฌ6.95
-61.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.37MX$41.17
$1.97โฌ1.68
20.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MX$56.2
$34.52โฌ29.38
-90.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.81
$1.52โฌ1.29
-13.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5KMX$530.2K
$26.4Kโฌ22.5K
15.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$413.6K
$41.3Kโฌ35.2K
-42.39%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Xewkija
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.1MX$1,443
$167โฌ142
-50.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.15MX$385
$30.22โฌ25.72
-26.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.37MX$510
$33.57โฌ28.56
-12.51%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Xewkija
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.2MX$889
$63.3โฌ53.9
-19.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.69MX$324
$23.52โฌ20.02
-20.54%
Cinema Ticket
$4.89MX$84.9
$15.16โฌ12.90
-67.74%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Xewkija
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$199MX$3,449
$259โฌ221
-23.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,207MX$90.4K
$12.8Kโฌ10.9K
-59.22%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Xewkija
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93MX$624
$103โฌ88.1
-65.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.39MX$684
$38.19โฌ32.50
3.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.3MX$1,394
$147โฌ125
-45.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6MX$1,520
$102โฌ87.0
-14.31%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Xewkija
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.7K
$1,124โฌ957
-14.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482MX$8,370
$928โฌ789
-48.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,645MX$28.6K
$1,953โฌ1,662
-15.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,192MX$20.7K
$1,496โฌ1,273
-20.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,957MX$68.7K
$4,797โฌ4,082
-17.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,513MX$113.1K
$3,327โฌ2,831
95.76%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Xewkija
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$726MX$12.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
5.43
110.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026
Last update for Xewkija: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,124 in Xewkija. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $43 in Playa del Carmen versus $69 in Xewkija. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $301 โ 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 Xewkija: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Xewkija cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes โ Xewkija is pricier by about 63%, 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 $1,894 per month in Playa del Carmen and $3,088 in Xewkija. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen vs Xewkija?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,262 in Playa del Carmen and $2,059 in Xewkija. The difference isn't just one category โ it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 16% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Xewkija?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,262, than in Xewkija at $2,059. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Xewkija it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Xewkija more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen โ lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Xewkija?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Xewkija makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared