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 $2,623 per month in Port Coquitlam, BC vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,575 per month in Port Coquitlam, BC vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,526 per month in Port Coquitlam, BC vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Port Coquitlam, BC costs about 103% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Port Coquitlam, BC sits 91% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Port Coquitlam, BC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.55 CA$20.07
$11.71 MX$198
24.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.4 CA$101
$46.59 MX$788
57.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.65 CA$11.92
$11.65 MX$197
-25.75%
Cappuccino
$3.51 CA$4.84
$4.09 MX$69.2
-14.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 CA$2.95
$1.37 MX$23.23
56.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 CA$2.29
$0.83 MX$14.09
100.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.80 CA$8.00
$3.35 MX$56.7
73.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.47 CA$8.92
$6.91 MX$117
-6.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Port Coquitlam, BC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.86 CA$2.57
$1.73 MX$29.20
7.51%
White Bread (500g)
$2.57 CA$3.54
$2.26 MX$38.21
13.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.71 CA$5.12
$1.77 MX$29.91
109.60%
Eggs
$3.23 CA$4.45
$2.73 MX$46.19
18.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.04 CA$16.60
$9.18 MX$155
31.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.91 CA$17.81
$8.92 MX$151
44.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.53 CA$20.04
$12.60 MX$213
15.32%
Apples (1kg)
$4.19 CA$5.78
$3.02 MX$51.1
38.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.34 CA$1.85
$1.57 MX$26.55
-14.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.98 CA$5.49
$2.13 MX$35.93
86.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.84 CA$5.30
$2.26 MX$38.28
69.91%
Potato (1kg)
$2.93 CA$4.04
$2.00 MX$33.88
46.50%
Onion (1kg)
$2.49 CA$3.43
$2.06 MX$34.90
20.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.59 CA$3.57
$1.18 MX$19.94
119.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 CA$2.35
$1.20 MX$20.35
42.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.98 CA$22.04
$4.63 MX$78.4
245.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.30 CA$19.72
$10.69 MX$181
33.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 CA$3.83
$1.62 MX$27.38
71.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 CA$4.11
$2.88 MX$48.70
3.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Port Coquitlam, BC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.11 CA$2.91
$0.57 MX$9.69
270.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$112 CA$155
$29.83 MX$504
275.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.76 CA$3.81
$5.45 MX$92.1
-49.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.61 CA$2.21
$3.70 MX$62.6
-56.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.38 CA$44.65
$5.98 MX$101
441.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 CA$1.92
$1.55 MX$26.26
-10.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K CA$38.7K
$22.3K MX$377.4K
25.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K CA$26.7K
$25.9K MX$438.7K
-25.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Coquitlam, BC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.9 CA$109
$89.1 MX$1,507
-11.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.44 CA$48.88
$25.04 MX$423
41.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.4 CA$69.5
$31.50 MX$532
60.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Port Coquitlam, BC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.56 CA$29.74
$67.8 MX$1,146
-68.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.92 MX$489
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.76 CA$14.84
$5.05 MX$85.4
113.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Port Coquitlam, BC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,102 CA$1,519
$225 MX$3,803
389.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.5K CA$28.3K
$4,222 MX$71.4K
385.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Port Coquitlam, BC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.2 CA$84.3
$47.44 MX$802
28.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.27 CA$50.0
$44.98 MX$760
-19.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.2 CA$118
$82.0 MX$1,386
3.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.2 CA$135
$92.1 MX$1,557
6.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Port Coquitlam, BC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,560 CA$2,152
$1,069 MX$18.1K
45.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 CA$2,058
$405 MX$6,852
268.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,157 CA$2,974
$1,935 MX$32.7K
11.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,928 CA$2,658
$1,301 MX$22.0K
48.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,995 MX$67.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,702 CA$7,863
$6,626 MX$112.0K
-13.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Port Coquitlam, BC
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,350 CA$3,240
$749 MX$12.7K
213.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.23
11.45
-63.06%

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

Last update for Port Coquitlam, BC: September 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,560 in Port Coquitlam, BC versus $1,069 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 214% 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 $73.0 in Port Coquitlam, BC versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $374 vs $277 – 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
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Port Coquitlam, BC?
Yes – Port Coquitlam, BC is pricier by about 103%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $3,935 per month in Port Coquitlam, BC and $1,940 in Playa del Carmen. 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 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 Port Coquitlam, BC and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,623 in Port Coquitlam, BC and $1,293 in Playa del Carmen. 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 276% 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 living in Port Coquitlam, BC or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,293, than in Port Coquitlam, BC at $2,623. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port Coquitlam, BC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Port Coquitlam, BC or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Port Coquitlam, BC or Playa del Carmen?
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.
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, Port Coquitlam, BC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Port Coquitlam, BC vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities