Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Queluz and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,204 a month against $1,642 in Queluz, rent and utilities included – about $5,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Queluz, Portugal
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Queluz
🇵🇹 Portugal
$1,642
/mo nomad
Playa del Carmen
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Queluz 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 Queluz and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,642 per month in Queluz vs $1,204 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Queluz $1,642
  • Playa del Carmen $1,204

A couple spends around $2,483 per month in Queluz vs $2,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Queluz $2,483
  • Playa del Carmen $2,082

A family of three spends $3,324 per month in Queluz vs $2,959 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

  • Queluz $3,324
  • Playa del Carmen $2,959

Queluz costs about 36% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Queluz sits 21% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 12% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Queluz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.29 €11.90
$10.92 MX$205
21.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.56 €24.68
$43.37 MX$814
-36.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.73 €6.03
$11.78 MX$221
-42.87%
Cappuccino
$0.83 €0.74
$3.81 MX$71.5
-78.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 €1.53
$1.28 MX$24.07
32.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 €0.98
$0.78 MX$14.70
39.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.13 €1.01
$3.17 MX$59.5
-64.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 €2.02
$4.93 MX$92.7
-54.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Queluz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 €1.20
$1.41 MX$26.40
-4.96%
White Bread (500g)
$1.35 €1.21
$2.22 MX$41.62
-39.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 €1.46
$1.42 MX$26.61
14.79%
Eggs
$4.18 €3.74
$2.52 MX$47.36
65.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.87 €15.11
$7.26 MX$136
132.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.72 €6.91
$7.70 MX$144
0.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$27.38 €24.52
$12.69 MX$238
115.76%
Apples (1kg)
$3.10 €2.78
$2.78 MX$52.3
11.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.33 €1.19
$1.37 MX$25.68
-2.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 €1.53
$2.55 MX$47.89
-32.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 €2.01
$2.12 MX$39.86
5.66%
Potato (1kg)
$2.03 €1.82
$1.94 MX$36.39
4.64%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 €1.80
$1.89 MX$35.41
6.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.73 €1.55
$1.15 MX$21.53
50.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 €0.87
$1.18 MX$22.13
-17.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.47 €7.59
$4.30 MX$80.6
96.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.97 €5.35
$9.95 MX$187
-40.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 €0.91
$1.58 MX$29.73
-35.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 €1.42
$2.67 MX$50.1
-40.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Queluz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.44 €2.19
$0.55 MX$10.39
343.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.93 €38.44
$26.62 MX$500
61.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.59 €3.22
$4.97 MX$93.3
-27.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.89 €0.80
$3.33 MX$62.5
-73.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.90 €14.24
$5.36 MX$101
196.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.17 €1.94
$1.44 MX$27.11
50.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.9K €30.4K
$20.7K MX$388.0K
64.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.5K €33.6K
$23.5K MX$440.5K
59.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Queluz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$150 €134
$84.8 MX$1,592
76.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.01 €18.81
$23.41 MX$439
-10.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.6 €50.7
$28.66 MX$538
97.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Queluz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.73 €31.11
$57.1 MX$1,071
-39.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.55 €16.61
$28.91 MX$543
-35.84%
Cinema Ticket
$8.83 €7.91
$5.14 MX$96.5
71.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Queluz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$659 €590
$207 MX$3,878
219.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.4K €13.8K
$3,927 MX$73.7K
291.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Queluz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.5 €70.3
$43.35 MX$814
80.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.8 €49.99
$41.44 MX$778
34.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.5 €70.3
$74.2 MX$1,393
5.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.4 €60.4
$89.3 MX$1,676
-24.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Queluz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$892 €799
$980 MX$18.4K
-8.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$706 €632
$381 MX$7,150
85.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,467 €1,314
$1,708 MX$32.1K
-14.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,328 €1,190
$1,075 MX$20.2K
23.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,903 €2,600
$3,943 MX$74.0K
-26.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,292 €2,053
$6,158 MX$115.6K
-62.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Queluz
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$735 MX$13.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.65
11.45
-59.39%

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

Last update for Queluz: 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
Queluz
$706
Playa del Carmen
$381 46% $325
Groceries & Markets
Queluz
$312
Playa del Carmen
$255 18.3% $57
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Queluz
$227
Playa del Carmen
$137 39.8% $90
Eating Out
Queluz
$158
Playa del Carmen
$202 28.3% $45
Clothing & Footwear
Queluz
$126
Playa del Carmen
$112 11.4% $14
Getting Around
Queluz
$61
Playa del Carmen
$50 17% $10
Sport & Entertainment
Queluz
$52
Playa del Carmen
$67 28.5% $15

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $892 in Queluz 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28 in Queluz versus $43 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $312 in Queluz vs $255 in Playa del Carmen – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇵🇹 Queluz
🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen
🕒 Local time
02:46 2:46 AM
21:46 9:46 PM
5 h behind Queluz
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
75,169
149,923
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 18.77 MXN (100 MXN = 5.33 USD). 1 EUR = 20.96 MXN (100 MXN = 4.77 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Queluz Playa del Carmen 7,560 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Queluz
  • 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
Queluz vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Queluz?
Yes – Queluz is pricier by about 36%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,463 per month in Queluz and $1,806 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What is the rent difference between Queluz and Playa del Carmen?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $892 in Queluz and $980 in Playa del Carmen. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
What are total monthly expenses in Queluz and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,642 in Queluz and $1,204 in Playa del Carmen. That makes Playa del Carmen about 27% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 38% 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 living in Queluz or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,204, than in Queluz at $1,642. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Queluz it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is it better to live in Queluz or in Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,204 in Playa del Carmen to $1,642 in Queluz. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Queluz vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?