Cost of Living Comparison Between Providenciales and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Providenciales and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,529 per month in Providenciales vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,063 per month in Providenciales vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,596 per month in Providenciales vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Providenciales costs about 170% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Providenciales sits 156% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.15 $18.15

$11.96 MX$203

51.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$120 $120

$47.38 MX$804

153.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.91 $10.91

$11.75 MX$199

-7.15%

Cappuccino

$6.05 $6.05

$4.12 MX$70.0

46.84%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$1.40 MX$23.75

112.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$0.91 MX$15.48

151.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.21 MX$54.4

57.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.64 $6.64

$7.07 MX$120

-6.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.82 $4.82

$1.68 MX$28.46

186.90%

White Bread (500g)

$6.07 $6.07

$2.15 MX$36.50

182.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.13 $5.13

$1.77 MX$30.11

189.83%

Eggs

$2.82 MX$47.78

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.20 MX$156

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$20.25 $20.25

$9.23 MX$157

119.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.61 $17.61

$12.64 MX$214

39.32%

Apples (1kg)

$4.09 $4.09

$2.95 MX$50.1

38.64%

Banana (1kg)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.58 MX$26.80

42.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.22 MX$37.72

15.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.11

Potato (1kg)

$1.99 MX$33.82

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.98 MX$33.60

2.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 MX$21.05

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.54 $3.54

$1.21 MX$20.56

192.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.60 MX$78.1

Wine (Bottle)

$19.70 $19.70

$10.52 MX$179

87.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 MX$28.71

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 MX$47.09

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.23

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 $3.05

$5.24 MX$88.9

-41.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.65 MX$61.9

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 MX$98.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.54 MX$26.11

44.16%

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

$22.8K MX$387.0K

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

$25.8K MX$438.1K

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

$400 $400

$90.7 MX$1,539

341.70%

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

$70.3 $70.3

$25.19 MX$428

179.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$141 $141

$31.75 MX$539

345.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.9 $98.9

$68.8 MX$1,168

43.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$498

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$82.5

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

$503 $503

$226 MX$3,830

122.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K $12.8K

$4,194 MX$71.2K

204.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.6 $81.6

$47.38 MX$804

72.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.3 $60.3

$43.45 MX$737

38.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$150 $150

$80.2 MX$1,362

86.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 $101

$91.4 MX$1,551

10.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,793 $1,793

$1,086 MX$18.4K

65.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,869 $1,869

$409 MX$6,936

357.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,772 $4,772

$1,972 MX$33.5K

141.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,055 $5,055

$1,281 MX$21.7K

294.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,046 MX$68.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,161 $2,161

$6,704 MX$113.8K

-67.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,349 $2,349

$773 MX$13.1K

203.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

-38.86%

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

Last update for Providenciales: September 5, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,793 in Providenciales versus $1,086 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 204% higher in Providenciales, 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 $120 in Providenciales versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $414 vs $278 – 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

Providenciales vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Providenciales is pricier by about 170%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,294 per month in Providenciales and $1,958 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 $3,529 in Providenciales and $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $503 per month in Providenciales and $226 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,305, than in Providenciales at $3,529. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Providenciales 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.

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