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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $615 per month in Redcliff vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $991 per month in Redcliff vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,368 per month in Redcliff vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Redcliff is about 53% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Redcliff and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Redcliff 55% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Redcliff
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.13 ZWL 272
$11.96 MX$202
-15.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.30 ZWL 1,055
$47.38 MX$801
-17.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.95 ZWL 160
$11.75 MX$199
-49.36%
Cappuccino
$3.12 ZWL 83.9
$4.12 MX$69.7
-24.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 ZWL 26.19
$1.40 MX$23.66
-30.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ZWL 14.29
$0.91 MX$15.43
-41.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.51 ZWL 40.66
$3.21 MX$54.2
-52.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 ZWL 53.0
$7.07 MX$120
-72.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Redcliff
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.54 ZWL 41.31
$1.68 MX$28.35
-8.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.02 ZWL 27.45
$2.15 MX$36.36
-52.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 ZWL 44.11
$1.77 MX$30.00
-7.34%
Eggs
$1.91 ZWL 51.4
$2.82 MX$47.60
-32.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.16 ZWL 327
$9.20 MX$156
32.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.63 ZWL 151
$9.23 MX$156
-39.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.59 ZWL 177
$12.64 MX$214
-47.86%
Apples (1kg)
$3.11 ZWL 83.6
$2.95 MX$49.90
5.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 ZWL 44.51
$1.58 MX$26.70
5.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.04 ZWL 54.8
$2.22 MX$37.58
-8.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 ZWL 39.99
$2.36 MX$39.96
-36.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.66 ZWL 44.46
$1.99 MX$33.70
-16.58%
Onion (1kg)
$1.79 ZWL 48.02
$1.98 MX$33.47
-9.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.21 ZWL 32.43
$1.24 MX$20.97
-2.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 ZWL 27.00
$1.21 MX$20.48
-16.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.04 ZWL 54.7
$4.60 MX$77.8
-55.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.19 ZWL 247
$10.52 MX$178
-12.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 ZWL 38.17
$1.69 MX$28.60
-15.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93 ZWL 51.7
$2.77 MX$46.91
-30.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Redcliff
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.60 MX$10.19
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$29.70 MX$502
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.94 ZWL 106
$5.24 MX$88.5
-24.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.03 ZWL 54.5
$3.65 MX$61.7
-44.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 ZWL 133
$5.78 MX$97.8
-14.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.79 ZWL 47.96
$1.54 MX$26.01
16.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4K ZWL 600.2K
$22.8K MX$385.5K
-1.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K ZWL 727.9K
$25.8K MX$436.5K
5.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Redcliff
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$54.7 ZWL 1,468
$90.7 MX$1,533
-39.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.56 ZWL 579
$25.19 MX$426
-14.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.2 ZWL 1,776
$31.75 MX$537
108.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Redcliff
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$68.8 MX$1,163
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.37 MX$497
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.80 ZWL 263
$4.86 MX$82.2
101.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Redcliff
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$454 ZWL 12.2K
$226 MX$3,816
100.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,954 ZWL 240.4K
$4,194 MX$70.9K
113.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Redcliff
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.70 ZWL 663
$47.38 MX$801
-47.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.24 ZWL 570
$43.45 MX$735
-51.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$40.16 ZWL 1,078
$80.2 MX$1,356
-49.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.48 ZWL 1,114
$91.4 MX$1,545
-54.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Redcliff
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,086 MX$18.4K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$409 MX$6,910
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,972 MX$33.3K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,281 MX$21.7K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,046 MX$68.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,704 MX$113.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Redcliff
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$773 MX$13.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.69
11.45
19.56%

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

Last update for Redcliff: September 6, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Redcliff versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $220 vs $278 – making Redcliff 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
Redcliff vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Redcliff?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 112%, 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 $922 per month in Redcliff and $1,958 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Redcliff and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $615 in Redcliff and $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $454 per month in Redcliff and $226 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Redcliff or in Playa del Carmen?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Redcliff, where all-in costs run around $615, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Redcliff it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Redcliff or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Redcliff – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Redcliff. 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.

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