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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,633 per month in Rijswijk vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,788 per month in Rijswijk vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,943 per month in Rijswijk vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Rijswijk costs about 110% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Rijswijk sits 97% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rijswijk
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.29 €20.38
$11.99 MX$210
94.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$104 €91.0
$41.78 MX$733
149.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.35 €8.18
$10.75 MX$189
-13.02%
Cappuccino
$4.61 €4.03
$3.50 MX$61.3
31.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 €3.09
$1.45 MX$25.41
143.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 €2.46
$0.88 MX$15.52
220.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.03 €6.15
$2.95 MX$51.7
138.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.03 €6.15
$4.51 MX$79.1
55.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rijswijk
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 €1.23
$1.43 MX$25.12
-2.10%
White Bread (500g)
$2.40 €2.10
$1.84 MX$32.23
30.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.69 €1.48
$1.57 MX$27.51
7.64%
Eggs
$5.24 €4.58
$2.51 MX$44.06
108.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.73 €12.02
$8.28 MX$145
65.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.30 €12.51
$8.43 MX$148
69.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.40 €14.35
$10.68 MX$187
53.56%
Apples (1kg)
$2.85 €2.49
$2.61 MX$45.76
9.20%
Banana (1kg)
$2.52 €2.20
$1.44 MX$25.22
75.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.24 €1.96
$1.96 MX$34.41
14.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.71 €4.12
$2.09 MX$36.74
125.36%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 €1.78
$1.85 MX$32.47
10.27%
Onion (1kg)
$1.73 €1.51
$2.17 MX$38.02
-20.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.35 €1.19
$1.03 MX$18.09
31.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 €1.02
$1.07 MX$18.84
9.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.52 €12.70
$4.10 MX$72.0
254.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.55 €4.86
$10.17 MX$178
-45.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.52
$1.68 MX$29.38
3.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 €2.59
$2.53 MX$44.31
17.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Rijswijk
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.57 €3.13
$0.51 MX$8.93
600.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$94.3 €82.5
$26.04 MX$457
262.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.63 €4.05
$3.23 MX$56.7
43.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.07 €2.68
$2.41 MX$42.19
27.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$64.5 €56.4
$3.23 MX$56.6
1897.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.12 €1.86
$1.32 MX$23.17
60.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.8K €38.3K
$29.7K MX$520.9K
47.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.6K €33.7K
$23.7K MX$415.0K
62.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rijswijk
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$295 €258
$82.0 MX$1,439
259.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.81 €19.08
$22.95 MX$403
-4.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.9 €46.28
$30.11 MX$528
75.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rijswijk
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.69 €35.60
$52.0 MX$912
-21.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.28 €20.37
$18.53 MX$325
25.63%
Cinema Ticket
$17.33 €15.17
$4.98 MX$87.3
247.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rijswijk
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,843 €2,487
$197 MX$3,463
1339.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,852 €6,869
$5,336 MX$93.6K
47.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rijswijk
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 €89.8
$35.60 MX$624
188.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.84 €43.61
$40.33 MX$707
23.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$123 €108
$78.8 MX$1,381
56.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$136 €119
$88.9 MX$1,560
52.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rijswijk
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,418 €1,241
$947 MX$16.6K
49.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,176 €1,029
$474 MX$8,314
148.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,245 €1,964
$1,644 MX$28.8K
36.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,756 €1,536
$1,211 MX$21.2K
45.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,056 MX$71.1K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$6,470 MX$113.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rijswijk
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,870 €3,386
$654 MX$11.5K
491.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.02
11.42
-64.80%

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

Last update for Rijswijk: July 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,418 in Rijswijk versus $947 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 492% higher in Rijswijk, 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 $104 in Rijswijk versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $344 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
Rijswijk vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Rijswijk?
Yes – Rijswijk is pricier by about 110%, 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 $3,950 per month in Rijswijk and $1,884 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 Rijswijk and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,633 in Rijswijk 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 public transport?
Public transport costs about 262% 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 Rijswijk or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Rijswijk at $2,633. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rijswijk it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Rijswijk 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, Rijswijk 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, Rijswijk makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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