😐A single person spends $2,280 per month in Redbridge vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,378 per month in Redbridge vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,476 per month in Redbridge vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Redbridge costs about 76% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Redbridge sits 70% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Redbridge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.13£14.97
$11.73MX$203
71.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.1£60.3
$41.62MX$720
94.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.15£7.54
$10.64MX$184
-4.61%
Cappuccino
$4.64£3.45
$3.52MX$60.9
31.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36£1.75
$1.51MX$26.12
56.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66£1.23
$0.97MX$16.84
71.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.04£4.49
$2.95MX$51.0
104.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.94£4.41
$4.45MX$77.0
33.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Redbridge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.59£1.18
$1.38MX$23.93
15.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.65£1.22
$1.89MX$32.72
-12.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20£1.63
$1.64MX$28.32
34.15%
Eggs
$3.87£2.88
$2.51MX$43.34
54.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.71£7.22
$8.34MX$144
16.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.66£6.44
$8.34MX$144
3.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.79£10.25
$10.73MX$186
28.52%
Apples(1kg)
$3.05£2.27
$2.60MX$45.04
17.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57£1.17
$1.46MX$25.20
7.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.89£2.15
$1.90MX$32.87
52.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.58£2.66
$2.08MX$35.91
72.12%
Potato(1kg)
$1.64£1.22
$1.78MX$30.71
-7.87%
Onion(1kg)
$1.53£1.14
$2.19MX$37.80
-30.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06£0.79
$1.04MX$17.99
1.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45£1.08
$1.08MX$18.62
34.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.95£14.08
$4.08MX$70.6
364.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.53£8.57
$10.32MX$178
11.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.72£2.02
$1.71MX$29.61
59.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12£2.32
$2.58MX$44.54
20.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Redbridge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.35£2.49
$0.51MX$8.81
556.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$88.8£66.0
$26.46MX$458
235.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.32£3.95
$3.26MX$56.4
63.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59£1.18
$2.49MX$43.09
-36.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.49£17.46
$3.25MX$56.2
622.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89£1.40
$1.31MX$22.61
44.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K£28.4K
$30.3KMX$523.7K
26.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.8K£31.1K
$23.4KMX$405.3K
78.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Redbridge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$295£219
$82.9MX$1,433
256.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.05£12.67
$22.22MX$384
-23.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.25£31.40
$29.34MX$507
44.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Redbridge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.62£34.66
$51.6MX$893
-9.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.32MX$317
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.72£10.20
$5.07MX$87.6
170.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Redbridge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,573£1,169
$201MX$3,473
683.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.1K£13.5K
$5,212MX$90.1K
247.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Redbridge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.4£62.0
$36.92MX$639
126.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.08£32.02
$39.79MX$688
8.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.8£68.2
$78.5MX$1,357
16.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9£72.8
$87.1MX$1,506
12.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Redbridge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,215£903
$973MX$16.8K
24.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,002£745
$468MX$8,090
114.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,044£1,519
$1,641MX$28.4K
24.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,708£1,270
$1,221MX$21.1K
39.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,747£4,271
$3,946MX$68.3K
45.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,498MX$112.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Redbridge
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$664MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.63
11.42
-50.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Redbridge: June 2, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,215 in Redbridge versus $973 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 $81.0 in Redbridge versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $249 – 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
Redbridge vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Redbridge?
Yes – Redbridge is pricier by about 76%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,420 per month in Redbridge and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Redbridge vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,280 in Redbridge and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 235% 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 Redbridge or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Redbridge at $2,280. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Redbridge it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Redbridge or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Redbridge or Playa del Carmen?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Redbridge makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.