Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Coquitlam, BC and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Coquitlam, BC and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,772 per month in Port Coquitlam, BC vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,622 per month in Port Coquitlam, BC vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,473 per month in Port Coquitlam, BC vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Port Coquitlam, BC costs about 121% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Port Coquitlam, BC sits 107% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.98 CA$25.20

$11.99 MX$210

49.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.6 CA$113

$41.78 MX$733

92.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.40 CA$13.17

$10.75 MX$189

-12.56%

Cappuccino

$3.98 CA$5.57

$3.50 MX$61.3

13.71%

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

$2.07 CA$2.90

$1.45 MX$25.41

42.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 CA$1.88

$0.88 MX$15.52

52.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 CA$8.30

$2.95 MX$51.7

100.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.99 CA$8.39

$4.51 MX$79.1

32.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.16 CA$3.03

$1.43 MX$25.12

51.05%

White Bread (500g)

$2.40 CA$3.36

$1.84 MX$32.23

30.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.71 CA$5.20

$1.57 MX$27.51

136.31%

Eggs

$3.16 CA$4.43

$2.51 MX$44.06

25.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.79 CA$17.94

$8.28 MX$145

54.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.21 CA$19.92

$8.43 MX$148

68.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 CA$20.33

$10.68 MX$187

35.77%

Apples (1kg)

$3.29 CA$4.62

$2.61 MX$45.76

26.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 CA$2.06

$1.44 MX$25.22

2.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.28 CA$4.60

$1.96 MX$34.41

67.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.05 CA$5.68

$2.09 MX$36.74

93.78%

Potato (1kg)

$2.55 CA$3.58

$1.85 MX$32.47

37.84%

Onion (1kg)

$3.03 CA$4.25

$2.17 MX$38.02

39.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.61 CA$3.66

$1.03 MX$18.09

153.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 CA$1.68

$1.07 MX$18.84

12.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.49 CA$20.31

$4.10 MX$72.0

253.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.83 CA$17.99

$10.17 MX$178

26.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 CA$3.12

$1.68 MX$29.38

32.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 CA$3.29

$2.53 MX$44.31

-7.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.86 CA$2.61

$0.51 MX$8.93

264.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.0 CA$86.9

$26.04 MX$457

138.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 CA$4.32

$3.23 MX$56.7

-4.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 CA$1.95

$2.41 MX$42.19

-42.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.39 CA$38.39

$3.23 MX$56.6

747.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 CA$1.81

$1.32 MX$23.17

-2.27%

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

$25.2K CA$35.3K

$29.7K MX$520.9K

-15.22%

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

$19.9K CA$27.8K

$23.7K MX$415.0K

-16.11%

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

$91.9 CA$129

$82.0 MX$1,439

12.00%

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

$43.94 CA$61.6

$22.95 MX$403

91.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.8 CA$72.6

$30.11 MX$528

71.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.53 CA$20.38

$52.0 MX$912

-72.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.53 MX$325

Cinema Ticket

$12.12 CA$17.00

$4.98 MX$87.3

143.37%

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

$955 CA$1,338

$197 MX$3,463

383.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.1K CA$15.6K

$5,336 MX$93.6K

108.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.15 CA$68.9

$35.60 MX$624

38.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.26 CA$48.03

$40.33 MX$707

-15.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.2 CA$131

$78.8 MX$1,381

18.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 CA$163

$88.9 MX$1,560

30.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,601 CA$2,245

$947 MX$16.6K

69.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,660 CA$2,328

$474 MX$8,314

250.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,175 CA$3,049

$1,644 MX$28.8K

32.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,978 CA$2,773

$1,211 MX$21.2K

63.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,056 MX$71.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,524 CA$7,744

$6,470 MX$113.5K

-14.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,580 CA$3,617

$654 MX$11.5K

294.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.61

11.42

-50.88%

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

Last update for Port Coquitlam, BC: July 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,601 in Port Coquitlam, BC versus $947 in Playa del Carmen. 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 295% higher in Port Coquitlam, 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 $81.0 in Port Coquitlam, BC versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $365 vs $249 – 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

Port Coquitlam, BC vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Port Coquitlam, BC is pricier by about 121%, 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 $4,158 per month in Port Coquitlam, BC and $1,884 in Playa del Carmen. 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 $2,772 in Port Coquitlam, BC and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 138% 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 $1,256, than in Port Coquitlam, BC at $2,772. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port Coquitlam, 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.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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