😐A single person spends $1,260 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,204 in Yaguajay, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,125 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,691 in Yaguajay, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,990 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,179 in Yaguajay, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 5% more than Yaguajay, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Yaguajay are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen5% lower, Yaguajay10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Yaguajay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72MX$203
$5.99CUP 144
95.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.89MX$725
$17.97CUP 431
133.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51MX$182
$6.90CUP 166
52.32%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.0
$1.28CUP 30.62
180.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MX$26.10
$1.23CUP 29.53
22.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MX$15.83
$1.11CUP 26.66
-17.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96MX$51.2
$1.47CUP 35.19
101.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41MX$76.3
$1.70CUP 40.83
159.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Yaguajay
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40MX$24.16
$2.98CUP 71.5
-53.02%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.60
$0.77CUP 18.46
144.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MX$26.97
$2.37CUP 56.8
-34.18%
Eggs
$2.61MX$45.14
$3.03CUP 72.6
-13.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32MX$144
$5.46CUP 131
52.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.35MX$145
$5.23CUP 125
59.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.86MX$188
$11.88CUP 285
-8.59%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71MX$46.93
$4.80CUP 115
-43.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MX$26.04
$1.13CUP 27.03
33.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.41
$1.27CUP 30.46
47.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.89
$1.32CUP 31.79
65.91%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86MX$32.14
$1.83CUP 43.97
1.64%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23MX$38.59
$2.79CUP 66.9
-20.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MX$18.48
$0.97CUP 23.34
10.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.79
$1.09CUP 26.09
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19MX$72.4
$3.45CUP 82.8
21.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.43MX$180
$10.16CUP 244
2.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.68
$1.78CUP 42.69
-6.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61MX$45.19
$1.97CUP 47.39
32.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Yaguajay
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MX$9.37
$0.21CUP 5.14
157.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.16MX$453
$19.78CUP 475
32.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08MX$53.3
$1.97CUP 47.24
56.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$41.61
$0.41CUP 9.88
485.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13MX$54.1
$20.39CUP 489
-84.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.69
$1.26CUP 30.25
3.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KMX$515.7K
$68.7KCUP 1.6M
-56.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$403.5K
$74.9KCUP 1.8M
-68.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Yaguajay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3MX$1,406
$35.63CUP 855
128.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.56MX$390
$40.20CUP 965
-43.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05MX$520
$246CUP 5,901
-87.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Yaguajay
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.9MX$915
$40.53CUP 973
30.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39MX$318
$15.13CUP 363
21.55%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92MX$85.1
$1.01CUP 24.32
387.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Yaguajay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201MX$3,474
$115CUP 2,769
74.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,175MX$89.5K
$11.3KCUP 271.8K
-54.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Yaguajay
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.92MX$622
$40.67CUP 976
-11.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.13MX$694
$29.44CUP 707
36.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7MX$1,379
$73.8CUP 1,771
7.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MX$1,496
$79.6CUP 1,910
8.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Yaguajay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978MX$16.9K
$360CUP 8,634
171.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MX$8,140
$386CUP 9,255
22.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,651MX$28.6K
$1,020CUP 24.5K
61.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,203MX$20.8K
$604CUP 14.5K
99.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,953MX$68.4K
$388CUP 9,317
918.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,607MX$114.3K
$347CUP 8,320
1805.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Yaguajay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MX$11.7K
$53.7CUP 1,289
1160.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
8.33
37.09%
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 Yaguajay: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $978 in Playa del Carmen versus $360 in Yaguajay. 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 1160% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $18.00 in Yaguajay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $241 – making Yaguajay 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 Yaguajay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yaguajay cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 5%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 $1,805 in Yaguajay. 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 Yaguajay, 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 Yaguajay?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,260 in Playa del Carmen and $1,204 in Yaguajay. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 32% less in Yaguajay. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Yaguajay?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Yaguajay, where all-in costs run around $1,204, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,260. In Yaguajay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Yaguajay more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Yaguajay – 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 Yaguajay. 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