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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,199 per month in Roseau vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,043 per month in Roseau vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,887 per month in Roseau vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Roseau is about 8% cheaper than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Roseau and Playa del Carmen are more affordable than the global median – Roseau 11% lower, Playa del Carmen 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.35 EC$19.84

$11.73 MX$203

-37.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.7 EC$148

$41.62 MX$720

31.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.64 EC$17.94

$10.64 MX$184

-37.59%

Cappuccino

$4.06 EC$10.96

$3.52 MX$60.9

15.34%

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

$2.46 EC$6.64

$1.51 MX$26.12

62.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 EC$6.05

$0.97 MX$16.84

130.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 EC$4.89

$2.95 MX$51.0

-38.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.57 EC$6.95

$4.45 MX$77.0

-42.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.02 EC$8.17

$1.38 MX$23.93

118.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.73 EC$4.67

$1.89 MX$32.72

-8.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.89 EC$2.40

$1.64 MX$28.32

-45.73%

Eggs

$5.42 EC$14.64

$2.51 MX$43.34

115.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.24 EC$6.04

$8.34 MX$144

-73.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.27 EC$27.73

$8.34 MX$144

23.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.20 EC$32.94

$10.73 MX$186

13.70%

Apples (1kg)

$6.35 EC$17.13

$2.60 MX$45.04

144.23%

Banana (1kg)

$2.20 EC$5.95

$1.46 MX$25.20

50.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.81 EC$12.98

$1.90 MX$32.87

153.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.26 EC$14.21

$2.08 MX$35.91

152.88%

Potato (1kg)

$3.28 EC$8.85

$1.78 MX$30.71

84.27%

Onion (1kg)

$3.10 EC$8.38

$2.19 MX$37.80

41.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.14 EC$5.79

$1.04 MX$17.99

105.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 EC$7.61

$1.08 MX$18.62

161.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.6

Wine (Bottle)

$11.21 EC$30.26

$10.32 MX$178

8.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 EC$7.50

$1.71 MX$29.61

62.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 EC$7.96

$2.58 MX$44.54

14.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.06 EC$86.6

$26.46 MX$458

21.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.64 EC$9.83

$3.26 MX$56.4

11.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.74 EC$10.10

$2.49 MX$43.09

50.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.43 EC$28.16

$3.25 MX$56.2

220.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 EC$3.64

$1.31 MX$22.61

3.05%

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

$33.5K EC$90.6K

$30.3K MX$523.7K

10.78%

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

$29.8K EC$80.4K

$23.4K MX$405.3K

27.14%

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

$140 EC$377

$82.9 MX$1,433

68.43%

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

$41.84 EC$113

$22.22 MX$384

88.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.9 EC$154

$29.34 MX$507

93.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.52 EC$126

$51.6 MX$893

-9.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.13 EC$62.5

$18.32 MX$317

26.26%

Cinema Ticket

$8.41 EC$22.71

$5.07 MX$87.6

65.88%

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

$109 EC$294

$201 MX$3,473

-45.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,278 EC$8,850

$5,212 MX$90.1K

-37.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.7 EC$212

$36.92 MX$639

113.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.74 EC$126

$39.79 MX$688

17.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.4 EC$263

$78.5 MX$1,357

24.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.8 EC$245

$87.1 MX$1,506

4.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$281 EC$759

$973 MX$16.8K

-71.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 EC$539

$468 MX$8,090

-57.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$901 EC$2,432

$1,641 MX$28.4K

-45.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$622 EC$1,679

$1,221 MX$21.1K

-49.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$123 EC$331

$3,946 MX$68.3K

-96.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$57.3 EC$155

$6,498 MX$112.4K

-99.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$485 EC$1,311

$664 MX$11.5K

-26.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.6

11.42

-33.45%

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

Last update for Roseau: June 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $281 in Roseau versus $973 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 37% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 $55.0 in Roseau versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $359 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

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

Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 8%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,799 per month in Roseau and $1,945 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 Roseau, 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 $1,199 in Roseau and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 21% less in Roseau. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Roseau, where all-in costs run around $1,199, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,297. In Roseau it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Roseau – 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 Roseau. 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.