Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Porto Velho and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Porto Velho: $851 a month against $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent and utilities included – about $4,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Porto Velho, Brazil
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Porto Velho
🇧🇷 Brazil
$851
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Porto Velho and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Porto Velho and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $851 per month in Porto Velho vs $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Porto Velho $851
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

A couple spends around $1,347 per month in Porto Velho vs $2,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Porto Velho $1,347
  • Playa del Carmen $2,082

A family of three spends $1,844 per month in Porto Velho vs $2,959 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Porto Velho $1,844
  • Playa del Carmen $2,959

Porto Velho is about 29% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Porto Velho and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Porto Velho 38% lower, Playa del Carmen 12% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Porto Velho
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.47 R$29.23
$10.92 MX$204
-49.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.80 R$202
$43.37 MX$808
-12.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.15 R$32.86
$11.78 MX$220
-47.79%
Cappuccino
$1.78 R$9.53
$3.81 MX$71.0
-53.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 R$8.13
$1.28 MX$23.90
18.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 R$2.60
$0.78 MX$14.59
-37.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.85 R$9.87
$3.17 MX$59.0
-41.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 R$11.03
$4.93 MX$92.0
-58.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Porto Velho
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 R$5.29
$1.41 MX$26.22
-29.79%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 R$7.51
$2.22 MX$41.33
-36.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.08 R$5.78
$1.42 MX$26.42
-23.94%
Eggs
$1.97 R$10.53
$2.52 MX$47.03
-21.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.70 R$46.51
$7.26 MX$135
19.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.08 R$21.82
$7.70 MX$143
-47.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.61 R$46.03
$12.69 MX$237
-32.15%
Apples (1kg)
$2.03 R$10.87
$2.78 MX$51.9
-26.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.24 R$6.65
$1.37 MX$25.50
-9.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.03 R$5.50
$2.55 MX$47.55
-59.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 R$8.29
$2.12 MX$39.58
-26.89%
Potato (1kg)
$1.27 R$6.80
$1.94 MX$36.13
-34.54%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 R$5.89
$1.89 MX$35.16
-41.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.63 R$3.39
$1.15 MX$21.37
-45.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 R$4.39
$1.18 MX$21.98
-30.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.17 R$11.61
$4.30 MX$80.1
-49.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.34 R$33.89
$9.95 MX$185
-36.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 R$6.58
$1.58 MX$29.52
-22.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 R$10.06
$2.67 MX$49.79
-29.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Porto Velho
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.92 R$4.93
$0.55 MX$10.31
67.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.03 R$219
$26.62 MX$496
54.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.29 R$6.89
$4.97 MX$92.6
-74.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.90 R$4.80
$3.33 MX$62.1
-72.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.50 R$40.09
$5.36 MX$99.8
39.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 R$6.52
$1.44 MX$26.92
-15.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8K R$111.4K
$20.7K MX$385.2K
0.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.7K R$180.1K
$23.5K MX$437.4K
43.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Porto Velho
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.3 R$424
$84.8 MX$1,581
-6.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.36 R$66.1
$23.41 MX$436
-47.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.71 R$105
$28.66 MX$534
-31.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Porto Velho
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.42 R$131
$57.1 MX$1,063
-57.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.57 R$137
$28.91 MX$539
-11.55%
Cinema Ticket
$6.69 R$35.77
$5.14 MX$95.8
30.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Porto Velho
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$227 R$1,215
$207 MX$3,851
10.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,657 R$40.9K
$3,927 MX$73.2K
94.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Porto Velho
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.37 R$248
$43.35 MX$808
6.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.33 R$248
$41.44 MX$772
11.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.1 R$450
$74.2 MX$1,383
13.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.5 R$356
$89.3 MX$1,664
-25.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Porto Velho
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$355 R$1,901
$980 MX$18.3K
-63.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$257 R$1,376
$381 MX$7,099
-32.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$629 R$3,366
$1,708 MX$31.8K
-63.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$463 R$2,477
$1,075 MX$20.0K
-56.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,810 R$9,676
$3,943 MX$73.5K
-54.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,256 R$6,718
$6,158 MX$114.8K
-79.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Porto Velho
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$388 R$2,075
$735 MX$13.7K
-47.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11
11.45
-3.93%

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

Last update for Porto Velho: October 26, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Porto Velho
$257
Playa del Carmen
$381 47.9% $123
Groceries & Markets
Porto Velho
$179
Playa del Carmen
$255 42.4% $76
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Porto Velho
$111
Playa del Carmen
$137 22.8% $25
Clothing & Footwear
Porto Velho
$110
Playa del Carmen
$112 2% $2.2
Eating Out
Porto Velho
$105
Playa del Carmen
$202 92.8% $97
Getting Around
Porto Velho
$51
Playa del Carmen
$50 0.1% $0
Sport & Entertainment
Porto Velho
$38
Playa del Carmen
$67 78.1% $30

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $355 in Porto Velho versus $980 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 89% higher in Playa del Carmen. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38 in Porto Velho versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $179 vs $255 – making Porto Velho the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Porto Velho
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
14:43 2:43 PM
13:43 1:43 PM
1 h behind Porto Velho
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
460,434
149,923
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to BRL – Brazilian Real Converter

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 5.35 BRL (1 BRL = 0.187 USD). 1 EUR = 5.95 BRL (1 BRL = 0.168 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.75 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Porto Velho Playa del Carmen 4,140 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Porto Velho
  • Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Porto Velho vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Porto Velho cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 42%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,276 per month in Porto Velho and $1,806 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 Porto Velho, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $355 there versus $980 in Playa del Carmen.
What are total monthly expenses in Porto Velho and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $851 in Porto Velho and $1,204 in Playa del Carmen. That’s a gap of about 42%.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 35% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $800 enough to cover costs in Porto Velho or in Playa del Carmen?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $851 in Porto Velho and $1,204 in Playa del Carmen. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is it better to live in Porto Velho or in Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $851 in Porto Velho to $1,204 in Playa del Carmen. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Porto Velho. 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.

Porto Velho vs other spots: cost of living compared

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