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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,193 per month in Rolleston vs $1,305 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,288 per month in Rolleston vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,383 per month in Rolleston vs $3,362 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Rolleston is about 9% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Rolleston and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Rolleston 13% lower, Playa del Carmen 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.84 NZ$25.54

$11.96 MX$203

24.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.0 NZ$122

$47.38 MX$805

49.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.37 NZ$16.12

$11.75 MX$200

-20.26%

Cappuccino

$3.44 NZ$5.93

$4.12 MX$70.1

-16.50%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 NZ$3.72

$1.40 MX$23.78

54.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 NZ$3.21

$0.91 MX$15.50

105.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.94 NZ$11.94

$3.21 MX$54.5

116.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.56 NZ$11.29

$7.07 MX$120

-7.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 NZ$3.07

$1.68 MX$28.49

5.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.98 NZ$3.41

$2.15 MX$36.53

-7.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 NZ$2.63

$1.77 MX$30.14

-13.56%

Eggs

$6.24 NZ$10.73

$2.82 MX$47.83

121.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.83 NZ$13.47

$9.20 MX$156

-14.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.76 NZ$16.80

$9.23 MX$157

5.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.42 NZ$24.80

$12.64 MX$215

14.08%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 NZ$4.60

$2.95 MX$50.1

-9.15%

Banana (1kg)

$2.41 NZ$4.15

$1.58 MX$26.83

52.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.88 NZ$4.96

$2.22 MX$37.76

29.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.35 NZ$9.20

$2.36 MX$40.15

126.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.95 NZ$3.35

$1.99 MX$33.86

-2.01%

Onion (1kg)

$1.47 NZ$2.53

$1.98 MX$33.63

-25.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.39 NZ$4.12

$1.24 MX$21.07

92.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 NZ$0.99

$1.21 MX$20.58

-52.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$24.61 NZ$42.35

$4.60 MX$78.2

435.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.67 NZ$14.92

$10.52 MX$179

-17.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.70 NZ$6.37

$1.69 MX$28.74

118.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 NZ$6.13

$2.77 MX$47.13

28.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.20 NZ$2.06

$0.60 MX$10.24

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$505

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 NZ$4.50

$5.24 MX$89.0

-50.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.75 NZ$3.01

$3.65 MX$62.0

-52.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.87 NZ$49.67

$5.78 MX$98.3

399.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.78 NZ$3.05

$1.54 MX$26.13

15.58%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.4K NZ$45.4K

$22.8K MX$387.4K

15.62%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.4K NZ$43.8K

$25.8K MX$438.5K

-1.44%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$115 NZ$198

$90.7 MX$1,540

26.83%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$23.80 NZ$40.95

$25.19 MX$428

-5.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.98 NZ$79.1

$31.75 MX$539

44.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 MX$1,169

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$499

Cinema Ticket

$10.71 NZ$18.42

$4.86 MX$82.6

120.37%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$352 NZ$606

$226 MX$3,834

55.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,965 NZ$12.0K

$4,194 MX$71.2K

66.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.4 NZ$106

$47.38 MX$805

29.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.52 NZ$62.8

$43.45 MX$738

-15.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.0 NZ$167

$80.2 MX$1,363

20.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$131 NZ$225

$91.4 MX$1,552

43.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$290 NZ$499

$1,086 MX$18.4K

-73.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$262 NZ$451

$409 MX$6,943

-35.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,051 NZ$1,808

$1,972 MX$33.5K

-46.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,133 NZ$1,949

$1,281 MX$21.8K

-11.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,115 NZ$3,639

$4,046 MX$68.7K

-47.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,887 NZ$3,246

$6,704 MX$113.9K

-71.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,530 NZ$7,794

$773 MX$13.1K

485.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.91

11.45

-48.38%

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

Last update for Rolleston: September 5, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $290 in Rolleston versus $1,086 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 486% higher in Rolleston, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in Rolleston versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $319 vs $278 – 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

Rolleston vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 9%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,790 per month in Rolleston and $1,958 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Rolleston, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,193 in Rolleston and $1,305 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $352 per month in Rolleston and $226 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Rolleston, where all-in costs run around $1,193, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,305. In Rolleston it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Rolleston – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Rolleston. 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.