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

😐 Solo nomad: Queenstown is 64.3% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 118.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Queenstown is 96.9% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 92.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Queenstown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.79 NZ$25.15
$11.61 MX$200
27.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.3 NZ$145
$42.75 MX$738
99.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.83 NZ$16.72
$10.60 MX$183
-7.26%
Cappuccino
$3.42 NZ$5.82
$3.59 MX$62.0
-4.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 NZ$4.25
$1.45 MX$25.08
72.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 NZ$3.98
$0.90 MX$15.50
160.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.16 NZ$12.17
$3.03 MX$52.4
136.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.10 NZ$10.37
$4.56 MX$78.8
33.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Queenstown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.16 NZ$3.67
$1.45 MX$25.07
48.97%
White Bread (500g)
$2.11 NZ$3.59
$1.83 MX$31.55
15.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.42 NZ$4.11
$1.61 MX$27.77
50.31%
Eggs
$6.35 NZ$10.79
$2.54 MX$43.82
150.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.88 NZ$16.79
$8.54 MX$148
15.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.88 NZ$18.50
$8.47 MX$146
28.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.92 NZ$28.77
$10.86 MX$188
55.80%
Apples (1kg)
$3.13 NZ$5.33
$2.73 MX$47.13
14.65%
Banana (1kg)
$2.56 NZ$4.35
$1.49 MX$25.77
71.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.96 NZ$6.74
$1.94 MX$33.55
104.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.94 NZ$10.10
$2.16 MX$37.38
175.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.63 NZ$4.47
$1.85 MX$31.88
42.16%
Onion (1kg)
$2.34 NZ$3.98
$2.19 MX$37.80
6.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.96 NZ$5.04
$1.07 MX$18.52
176.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 NZ$1.87
$1.08 MX$18.71
1.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$29.16 NZ$49.58
$4.06 MX$70.1
618.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.11 NZ$17.19
$10.46 MX$181
-3.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.71 NZ$8.00
$1.65 MX$28.56
185.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.87 NZ$11.68
$2.55 MX$44.01
169.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Queenstown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.73 NZ$4.63
$0.56 MX$9.60
387.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$129 NZ$219
$26.20 MX$453
392.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.89 NZ$4.91
$3.14 MX$54.2
-7.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.80 NZ$3.06
$2.37 MX$40.96
-24.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$31.25 NZ$53.1
$3.24 MX$56.0
864.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.64 NZ$2.79
$1.31 MX$22.70
25.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K NZ$50.6K
$30.5K MX$527.4K
-2.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.0K NZ$30.7K
$23.8K MX$411.4K
-24.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Queenstown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$279 NZ$475
$83.1 MX$1,436
235.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.54 NZ$67.2
$22.15 MX$383
78.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.4 NZ$108
$29.37 MX$507
115.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Queenstown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.1 NZ$98.8
$51.2 MX$884
13.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.63 NZ$41.87
$18.69 MX$323
31.78%
Cinema Ticket
$13.03 NZ$22.15
$4.89 MX$84.4
166.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Queenstown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$485 NZ$825
$199 MX$3,431
144.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,059 NZ$12.0K
$5,207 MX$89.9K
35.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Queenstown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.6 NZ$149
$35.93 MX$621
143.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.94 NZ$83.2
$39.39 MX$680
24.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.4 NZ$166
$80.3 MX$1,387
21.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$285 NZ$484
$87.6 MX$1,512
225.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Queenstown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,513 NZ$2,571
$963 MX$16.6K
57.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,281 NZ$2,177
$482 MX$8,326
165.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,988 NZ$5,080
$1,645 MX$28.4K
81.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,556 NZ$4,346
$1,192 MX$20.6K
114.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,074 NZ$13.7K
$3,957 MX$68.3K
104.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,449 NZ$9,264
$6,513 MX$112.5K
-16.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Queenstown
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,209 NZ$5,455
$726 MX$12.5K
341.80%
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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026

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

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