๐A single person spends $2,284 per month in Portadown vs $1,262 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $3,357 per month in Portadown vs $2,158 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $4,430 per month in Portadown vs $3,054 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐Portadown costs about 81% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Portadown sits 70% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Portadown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.44ยฃ15.15
$11.61MX$201
76.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.5ยฃ60.4
$42.75MX$742
90.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.93ยฃ7.36
$10.60MX$184
-6.32%
Cappuccino
$4.73ยฃ3.51
$3.59MX$62.3
31.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37ยฃ1.76
$1.45MX$25.21
63.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61ยฃ1.19
$0.90MX$15.58
78.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.33ยฃ4.69
$3.03MX$52.6
108.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.22ยฃ4.61
$4.56MX$79.2
36.40%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Portadown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65ยฃ1.22
$1.45MX$25.20
13.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.60ยฃ1.18
$1.83MX$31.72
-12.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.19ยฃ1.62
$1.61MX$27.92
36.02%
Eggs
$3.84ยฃ2.85
$2.54MX$44.05
51.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.74ยฃ7.21
$8.54MX$148
14.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.04ยฃ6.70
$8.47MX$147
6.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.89ยฃ10.29
$10.86MX$189
27.90%
Apples(1kg)
$3.04ยฃ2.25
$2.73MX$47.37
11.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.60ยฃ1.18
$1.49MX$25.91
7.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.80ยฃ2.07
$1.94MX$33.73
44.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.42ยฃ2.54
$2.16MX$37.57
58.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.69ยฃ1.25
$1.85MX$32.05
-8.65%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50ยฃ1.11
$2.19MX$38.00
-31.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08ยฃ0.80
$1.07MX$18.62
0.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.47ยฃ1.09
$1.08MX$18.81
36.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.84ยฃ13.96
$4.06MX$70.5
364.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.99ยฃ7.40
$10.46MX$182
-4.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.82ยฃ2.09
$1.65MX$28.71
70.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13ยฃ2.32
$2.55MX$44.23
22.75%
๐ Getting Around
Portadown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.44ยฃ2.55
$0.56MX$9.65
514.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$89.0ยฃ66.0
$26.20MX$455
239.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.30ยฃ3.93
$3.14MX$54.5
68.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60ยฃ1.18
$2.37MX$41.17
-32.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.19ยฃ17.18
$3.24MX$56.2
615.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08ยฃ1.54
$1.31MX$22.81
58.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.4Kยฃ28.4K
$30.5KMX$530.2K
25.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.0Kยฃ30.4K
$23.8KMX$413.6K
72.30%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Portadown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$299ยฃ222
$83.1MX$1,443
259.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.22ยฃ12.76
$22.15MX$385
-22.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.04ยฃ31.89
$29.37MX$510
46.54%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Portadown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.81ยฃ33.95
$51.2MX$889
-10.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.69MX$324
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.81ยฃ10.23
$4.89MX$84.9
182.41%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Portadown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,584ยฃ1,174
$199MX$3,449
697.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.2Kยฃ13.5K
$5,207MX$90.4K
250.14%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Portadown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.3ยฃ61.7
$35.93MX$624
131.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.36ยฃ32.13
$39.39MX$684
10.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.5ยฃ68.5
$80.3MX$1,394
15.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100.0ยฃ74.1
$87.6MX$1,520
14.16%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Portadown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,217ยฃ902
$963MX$16.7K
26.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,019ยฃ755
$482MX$8,370
111.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,068ยฃ1,532
$1,645MX$28.6K
25.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,677ยฃ1,242
$1,192MX$20.7K
40.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,957MX$68.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,513MX$113.1K
-
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Portadown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,598ยฃ1,925
$726MX$12.6K
257.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.63
11.42
-50.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Portadown: April 12, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $1,217 in Portadown versus $963 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.
๐ฐSalaries run about 258% higher in Portadown, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $81 in Portadown versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $296 vs $253 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
Portadown vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Portadown?
Yes โ Portadown is pricier by about 81%, 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 $3,427 per month in Portadown and $1,894 in Playa del Carmen. 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 Portadown vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,284 in Portadown and $1,262 in Playa del Carmen. 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 240% 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 Portadown or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,262, than in Portadown at $2,284. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Portadown it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Portadown or Playa del Carmen 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, Portadown 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 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, Portadown makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.