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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $983 per month in Roman vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,490 per month in Roman vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,998 per month in Roman vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Roman is about 24% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Roman and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Roman 27% lower, Playa del Carmen 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.10 RON 52.7

$11.94 MX$209

1.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.98 RON 122

$42.75 MX$748

-34.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.90 RON 34.44

$10.59 MX$185

-25.40%

Cappuccino

$3.51 RON 15.29

$3.62 MX$63.4

-3.04%

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

$1.18 RON 5.13

$1.47 MX$25.69

-19.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 RON 9.06

$0.94 MX$16.51

121.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.16 RON 13.80

$3.09 MX$54.1

2.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 RON 10.10

$4.46 MX$78.0

-47.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 RON 6.69

$1.43 MX$24.94

6.99%

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 RON 3.91

$1.88 MX$32.97

-52.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 RON 6.94

$1.63 MX$28.50

-2.45%

Eggs

$3.13 RON 13.63

$2.64 MX$46.26

18.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.68 RON 37.83

$8.21 MX$144

5.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.16 RON 31.23

$8.29 MX$145

-13.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.70 RON 51.0

$11.10 MX$194

5.41%

Apples (1kg)

$0.96 RON 4.19

$2.65 MX$46.40

-63.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 RON 6.73

$1.50 MX$26.26

2.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 RON 6.63

$1.99 MX$34.79

-23.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 RON 9.82

$2.08 MX$36.33

8.17%

Potato (1kg)

$0.84 RON 3.68

$1.79 MX$31.29

-53.07%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 RON 4.43

$2.18 MX$38.09

-53.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 RON 3.84

$1.08 MX$18.84

-18.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 RON 3.41

$1.04 MX$18.15

-25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.74 RON 25.03

$3.97 MX$69.5

44.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.86 RON 29.89

$10.20 MX$179

-32.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 RON 4.76

$1.73 MX$30.22

-36.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 RON 7.56

$2.50 MX$43.71

-30.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 RON 3.12

$0.52 MX$9.07

38.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.13 RON 87.8

$26.97 MX$472

-25.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 RON 3.07

$3.14 MX$55.0

-77.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.60 RON 2.61

$2.40 MX$42.04

-75.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.80 RON 29.64

$3.09 MX$54.0

120.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.67 RON 7.27

$1.27 MX$22.28

31.50%

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

$28.3K RON 123.4K

$30.9K MX$540.4K

-8.33%

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

$27.6K RON 120.3K

$23.3K MX$408.0K

18.35%

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

$93.4 RON 407

$82.0 MX$1,435

13.84%

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

$3.55 RON 15.47

$22.45 MX$393

-84.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.82 RON 25.35

$29.66 MX$519

-80.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.67 RON 182

$51.9 MX$908

-19.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.16 RON 83.6

$18.67 MX$327

2.62%

Cinema Ticket

$11.12 RON 48.47

$4.97 MX$87.0

123.74%

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

$327 RON 1,428

$198 MX$3,462

65.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,466 RON 28.2K

$5,273 MX$92.3K

22.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.1 RON 297

$36.34 MX$636

87.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.31 RON 75.5

$40.05 MX$701

-56.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.0 RON 419

$79.9 MX$1,398

20.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$34.81 RON 152

$88.9 MX$1,555

-60.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$382 RON 1,666

$963 MX$16.9K

-60.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$291 RON 1,268

$465 MX$8,133

-37.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$587 RON 2,559

$1,596 MX$27.9K

-63.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$430 RON 1,873

$1,209 MX$21.2K

-64.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,672 RON 7,289

$3,942 MX$69.0K

-57.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,534 RON 6,689

$6,448 MX$112.8K

-76.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$911 RON 3,973

$720 MX$12.6K

26.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.7

11.42

-32.57%

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

Last update for Roman: April 27, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $382 in Roman versus $963 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 26% higher in Roman, 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 $28.00 in Roman versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $212 vs $251 – making Roman 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 31%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,474 per month in Roman and $1,930 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 Roman, 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 $983 in Roman and $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 34% less in Roman. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Roman, where all-in costs run around $983, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Roman it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

If budget matters most, go with Roman. 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.