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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,102 per month in Regina vs $1,266 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,201 per month in Regina vs $2,279 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,300 per month in Regina vs $3,292 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Regina costs about 66% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Regina sits 54% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Regina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.15 CA$29.59
$11.60 MX$200
82.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.7 CA$94.7
$47.11 MX$812
43.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.81 CA$15.12
$11.88 MX$205
-9.01%
Cappuccino
$4.54 CA$6.36
$3.98 MX$68.6
14.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 CA$3.22
$1.43 MX$24.60
60.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 CA$2.53
$0.82 MX$14.22
120.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.54 CA$9.15
$3.19 MX$55.0
105.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.03 CA$8.44
$6.79 MX$117
-11.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Regina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.58 CA$2.21
$1.68 MX$28.89
-5.95%
White Bread (500g)
$2.32 CA$3.25
$2.20 MX$37.88
5.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.12 CA$4.36
$1.71 MX$29.45
82.46%
Eggs
$3.47 CA$4.85
$2.74 MX$47.26
26.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.07 CA$19.68
$9.58 MX$165
46.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.56 CA$16.17
$9.01 MX$155
28.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.68 CA$23.34
$12.81 MX$221
30.21%
Apples (1kg)
$4.29 CA$6.01
$2.89 MX$49.81
48.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 CA$2.07
$1.50 MX$25.81
-1.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.95 CA$5.53
$2.15 MX$37.03
83.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.76 CA$5.27
$2.26 MX$38.96
66.37%
Potato (1kg)
$2.35 CA$3.28
$1.98 MX$34.15
18.69%
Onion (1kg)
$2.40 CA$3.35
$1.99 MX$34.30
20.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.71 CA$3.80
$1.23 MX$21.28
120.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 CA$2.68
$1.20 MX$20.63
60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.64 CA$20.48
$4.55 MX$78.5
221.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.34 CA$18.66
$10.37 MX$179
28.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.50 CA$4.89
$1.62 MX$27.91
116.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37 CA$4.71
$2.88 MX$49.67
17.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Regina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.39 CA$3.35
$0.60 MX$10.35
298.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$62.2 CA$87.0
$28.80 MX$497
116.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.66 CA$5.12
$5.39 MX$92.9
-32.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 CA$1.14
$3.73 MX$64.3
-78.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.70 CA$30.36
$5.77 MX$99.5
276.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 CA$1.65
$1.54 MX$26.48
-23.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K CA$39.7K
$22.5K MX$388.8K
25.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.9K CA$29.3K
$26.1K MX$449.3K
-19.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Regina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 CA$246
$91.4 MX$1,576
92.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.9 CA$73.9
$25.20 MX$435
109.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.4 CA$81.8
$31.24 MX$539
87.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Regina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.42 CA$52.4
$67.2 MX$1,159
-44.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.57 CA$23.18
$29.11 MX$502
-43.08%
Cinema Ticket
$9.74 CA$13.63
$4.86 MX$83.8
100.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Regina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$488 CA$682
$224 MX$3,856
118.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.9K CA$15.2K
$4,229 MX$72.9K
156.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Regina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.4 CA$73.3
$47.10 MX$812
11.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.08 CA$54.7
$44.29 MX$764
-11.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.6 CA$135
$80.1 MX$1,381
20.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 CA$151
$92.7 MX$1,598
16.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Regina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,074 CA$1,502
$1,063 MX$18.3K
1.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$825 CA$1,154
$390 MX$6,728
111.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,815 CA$2,539
$2,149 MX$37.1K
-15.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,556 CA$2,177
$1,272 MX$21.9K
22.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,156 CA$3,016
$4,001 MX$69.0K
-46.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,108 CA$2,948
$6,502 MX$112.1K
-67.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Regina
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,722 CA$3,808
$758 MX$13.1K
259.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.58
11.45
-60.00%

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

Last update for Regina: September 14, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,074 in Regina versus $1,063 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.

Salaries run about 259% higher in Regina, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $68.0 in Regina versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $377 vs $276 – 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
Regina vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Regina?
Yes – Regina is pricier by about 66%, 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 $3,154 per month in Regina and $1,899 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 Regina and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,102 in Regina and $1,266 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 116% 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 Regina or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,266, than in Regina at $2,102. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Regina it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Regina 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 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, Regina makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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