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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,111 per month in Raanana vs $1,239 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,959 per month in Raanana vs $2,168 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,806 per month in Raanana vs $3,096 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Raanana is about 10% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Raanana and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Raanana 18% lower, Playa del Carmen 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$22.38 ₪68.3

$11.17 MX$203

100.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$96.3 ₪294

$44.61 MX$810

115.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.63 ₪63.0

$11.91 MX$216

73.22%

Cappuccino

$3.88 ₪11.86

$3.81 MX$69.3

1.84%

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

$2.26 ₪6.89

$1.38 MX$24.97

63.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 ₪6.11

$0.80 MX$14.46

150.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.74 ₪14.46

$3.12 MX$56.6

51.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.81 ₪17.73

$4.97 MX$90.2

16.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.21 ₪6.76

$1.51 MX$27.42

46.36%

White Bread (500g)

$2.79 ₪8.50

$2.25 MX$40.77

24.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.22 ₪6.78

$1.51 MX$27.35

47.02%

Eggs

$4.00 ₪12.21

$2.46 MX$44.73

62.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$26.53 ₪81.0

$7.50 MX$136

253.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.01 ₪42.79

$8.07 MX$146

73.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$29.80 ₪91.0

$13.08 MX$238

127.83%

Apples (1kg)

$4.84 ₪14.78

$2.83 MX$51.5

71.02%

Banana (1kg)

$5.10 ₪15.58

$1.47 MX$26.78

246.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.75 ₪8.39

$2.69 MX$48.90

2.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.84 ₪8.66

$2.08 MX$37.75

36.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 ₪5.43

$1.96 MX$35.52

-9.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 ₪4.34

$2.01 MX$36.51

-29.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.15 ₪12.67

$1.21 MX$21.97

242.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ₪2.92

$1.23 MX$22.34

-21.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.78 ₪45.14

$4.46 MX$81.0

231.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.40 ₪28.69

$9.98 MX$181

-5.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.34 ₪10.19

$1.63 MX$29.62

104.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 ₪9.37

$2.80 MX$50.8

9.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.56 ₪7.80

$0.58 MX$10.50

341.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.28 MX$514

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.56 ₪7.82

$4.85 MX$88.1

-47.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.32 ₪4.04

$3.50 MX$63.5

-62.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.97 ₪125

$5.65 MX$103

625.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.58 ₪7.88

$1.46 MX$26.43

76.71%

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

$56.5K ₪172.4K

$21.4K MX$388.4K

163.91%

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

$58.6K ₪178.8K

$24.0K MX$435.6K

144.17%

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

$86.3 MX$1,568

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

$10.08 ₪30.78

$23.96 MX$435

-57.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.29 ₪144

$28.93 MX$525

63.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.6 MX$1,174

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.07 MX$528

Cinema Ticket

$13.15 ₪40.14

$5.13 MX$93.1

156.34%

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

$1,148 ₪3,504

$211 MX$3,838

443.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.0K ₪85.6K

$4,045 MX$73.4K

593.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$132 ₪404

$44.23 MX$803

198.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$96.0 ₪293

$43.35 MX$787

121.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 ₪309

$76.9 MX$1,396

31.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₪372

$88.4 MX$1,605

37.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$996 MX$18.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 MX$6,874

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,233 ₪6,817

$1,767 MX$32.1K

26.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,887 ₪5,762

$1,127 MX$20.5K

67.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.2K ₪40.3K

$4,010 MX$72.8K

229.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,392 MX$116.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,907 ₪11.9K

$768 MX$14.0K

408.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

-56.33%

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

Last update for Raanana: September 28, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 409% higher in Raanana, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $96.0 in Raanana versus $45.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $472 vs $263 – 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,667 per month in Raanana and $1,859 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,111 in Raanana and $1,239 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,148 per month in Raanana and $211 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Raanana, where all-in costs run around $1,111, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,239. In Raanana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Raanana – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Raanana. 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.