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 $628 per month in Redcliff vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,024 per month in Redcliff vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,420 per month in Redcliff vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Redcliff is about 50% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Redcliff and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Redcliff 53% lower, Playa del Carmen 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Redcliff
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.93 ZWL 265
$11.99 MX$210
-17.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.3 ZWL 1,343
$41.78 MX$733
20.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.97 ZWL 186
$10.75 MX$189
-35.16%
Cappuccino
$2.99 ZWL 79.7
$3.50 MX$61.3
-14.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 ZWL 19.12
$1.45 MX$25.41
-50.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 ZWL 11.59
$0.88 MX$15.52
-51.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.47 ZWL 39.28
$2.95 MX$51.7
-50.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 ZWL 54.3
$4.51 MX$79.1
-54.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Redcliff
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 ZWL 41.44
$1.43 MX$25.12
8.39%
White Bread (500g)
$1.01 ZWL 27.01
$1.84 MX$32.23
-45.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.87 ZWL 50.0
$1.57 MX$27.51
19.11%
Eggs
$2.14 ZWL 57.0
$2.51 MX$44.06
-14.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.10 ZWL 296
$8.28 MX$145
34.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.33 ZWL 169
$8.43 MX$148
-24.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.57 ZWL 175
$10.68 MX$187
-38.48%
Apples (1kg)
$2.91 ZWL 77.6
$2.61 MX$45.76
11.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ZWL 45.47
$1.44 MX$25.22
18.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.28 ZWL 60.9
$1.96 MX$34.41
16.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.65 ZWL 44.15
$2.09 MX$36.74
-21.05%
Potato (1kg)
$1.49 ZWL 39.84
$1.85 MX$32.47
-19.46%
Onion (1kg)
$1.96 ZWL 52.4
$2.17 MX$38.02
-9.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.95 ZWL 25.45
$1.03 MX$18.09
-7.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 ZWL 26.84
$1.07 MX$18.84
-5.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.12 ZWL 29.82
$4.10 MX$72.0
-72.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.31 ZWL 248
$10.17 MX$178
-8.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 ZWL 31.30
$1.68 MX$29.38
-30.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 ZWL 47.46
$2.53 MX$44.31
-29.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Redcliff
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.51 MX$8.93
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$26.04 MX$457
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.96 ZWL 132
$3.23 MX$56.7
53.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 ZWL 54.6
$2.41 MX$42.19
-14.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.08 ZWL 136
$3.23 MX$56.6
57.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.61 ZWL 42.96
$1.32 MX$23.17
21.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K ZWL 524.3K
$29.7K MX$520.9K
-33.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2K ZWL 618.9K
$23.7K MX$415.0K
-1.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Redcliff
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$59.3 ZWL 1,581
$82.0 MX$1,439
-27.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.84 ZWL 476
$22.95 MX$403
-22.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$92.0 ZWL 2,455
$30.11 MX$528
205.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Redcliff
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$52.0 MX$912
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.53 MX$325
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.95 ZWL 265
$4.98 MX$87.3
99.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Redcliff
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$283 ZWL 7,555
$197 MX$3,463
43.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,305 ZWL 194.9K
$5,336 MX$93.6K
36.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Redcliff
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.73 ZWL 526
$35.60 MX$624
-44.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.03 ZWL 561
$40.33 MX$707
-47.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$34.47 ZWL 920
$78.8 MX$1,381
-56.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.63 ZWL 1,084
$88.9 MX$1,560
-54.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Redcliff
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$947 MX$16.6K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$474 MX$8,314
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,644 MX$28.8K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,211 MX$21.2K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,056 MX$71.1K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,470 MX$113.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Redcliff
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$654 MX$11.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.31
11.42
16.55%

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

Last update for Redcliff: July 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Redcliff versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $221 in Redcliff vs $249 in Playa del Carmen – so Redcliff wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 100%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $942 per month in Redcliff and $1,884 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 $628 in Redcliff and $1,256 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 $283 per month in Redcliff and $197 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 $628, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,256. 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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