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

😐 Solo nomad: Queenstown is 48.9% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 124.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Queenstown is 92% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 92% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Queenstown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.24 NZ$25.13
$11.99 MX$227
27.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.4 NZ$141
$42.47 MX$803
101.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.59 NZ$15.82
$10.47 MX$198
-8.40%
Cappuccino
$3.35 NZ$5.53
$3.6 MX$68.2
-6.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 NZ$3.92
$1.44 MX$27.16
65.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 NZ$3.92
$0.89 MX$16.79
167.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.37 NZ$12.16
$3.09 MX$58.5
138.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.05 NZ$9.98
$4.58 MX$86.6
32.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Queenstown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.28 NZ$3.75
$1.38 MX$26.04
65.22%
White Bread (500g)
$2.1 NZ$3.46
$1.85 MX$34.9
13.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.45 NZ$4.04
$1.57 MX$29.68
56.05%
Eggs
$6.62 NZ$10.92
$2.55 MX$48.3
159.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.07 NZ$16.6
$8.61 MX$163
16.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.66 NZ$17.58
$8.54 MX$161
24.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.66 NZ$27.48
$10.98 MX$208
51.73%
Apples (1kg)
$3.04 NZ$5.01
$2.72 MX$51.4
11.76%
Banana (1kg)
$2.54 NZ$4.18
$1.51 MX$28.57
68.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$4 NZ$6.6
$1.88 MX$35.63
112.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.76 NZ$9.51
$2.19 MX$41.42
163.01%
Potato (1kg)
$2.61 NZ$4.3
$1.87 MX$35.3
39.57%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 NZ$3.72
$2.19 MX$41.37
3.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.87 NZ$4.73
$1.07 MX$20.23
168.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 NZ$1.84
$1.09 MX$20.64
2.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$29.04 NZ$47.89
$3.96 MX$74.9
633.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.05 NZ$16.57
$8.86 MX$167
13.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.6 NZ$7.59
$1.72 MX$32.53
167.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.87 NZ$11.33
$2.61 MX$49.37
163.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Queenstown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.73 NZ$4.5
$0.52 MX$9.74
425.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$127 NZ$210
$26.59 MX$503
378.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.77 NZ$4.57
$3.24 MX$61.2
-14.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.86 NZ$3.07
$2.38 MX$44.94
-21.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$31.55 NZ$52
$3.11 MX$58.7
914.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.72 NZ$2.84
$1.31 MX$24.85
31.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30K NZ$49.4K
$30.3K MX$573K
-1.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.1K NZ$29.8K
$24K MX$453.6K
-24.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Queenstown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$277 NZ$456
$84.2 MX$1,592
228.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.53 NZ$66.8
$22.14 MX$419
83.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.9 NZ$105
$30.14 MX$570
111.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Queenstown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.7 NZ$96.9
$52 MX$983
12.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.73 NZ$40.78
$18.72 MX$354
32.10%
Cinema Ticket
$13.04 NZ$21.51
$5.07 MX$95.9
157.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Queenstown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$486 NZ$801
$200 MX$3,787
142.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,939 NZ$11.4K
$5,333 MX$100.8K
30.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Queenstown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.1 NZ$144
$35.74 MX$676
143.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.4 NZ$83.1
$39.8 MX$753
26.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98 NZ$162
$79 MX$1,493
24.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$279 NZ$460
$88.4 MX$1,671
215.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Queenstown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,498 NZ$2,471
$965 MX$18.3K
55.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,277 NZ$2,106
$474 MX$8,968
169.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,044 NZ$5,020
$1,653 MX$31.2K
84.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,539 NZ$4,187
$1,202 MX$22.7K
111.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,162 NZ$10.2K
$3,081 MX$58.3K
99.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,252 NZ$7,013
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-43.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Queenstown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,259 NZ$5,375
$792 MX$15K
311.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.74
11.42
-40.98%

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

Last update for Queenstown: October 29, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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