๐A single person spends $1,376 per month in Roลพลava vs $1,271 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $1,949 per month in Roลพลava vs $2,126 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $2,521 per month in Roลพลava vs $2,980 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
๐Roลพลava costs about 8% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Roลพลava sits 2% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Roลพลava
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.52โฌ8.20
$11.87MX$204
-19.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.45โฌ24.51
$42.90MX$736
-33.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.12โฌ7.86
$10.65MX$183
-14.37%
Cappuccino
$1.14โฌ0.98
$3.45MX$59.2
-66.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98โฌ1.70
$1.50MX$25.81
32.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62โฌ1.40
$0.95MX$16.28
70.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.30โฌ1.98
$3.03MX$51.9
-24.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10โฌ1.81
$4.61MX$79.1
-54.45%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Roลพลava
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09โฌ0.94
$1.38MX$23.61
-21.01%
White Bread(500g)
$0.95โฌ0.82
$1.85MX$31.70
-48.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.28โฌ1.97
$1.61MX$27.65
41.61%
Eggs
$3.44โฌ2.96
$2.59MX$44.51
32.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.20โฌ7.93
$8.26MX$142
11.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.43โฌ6.40
$8.37MX$144
-11.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.46โฌ9.87
$10.66MX$183
7.50%
Apples(1kg)
$1.19โฌ1.03
$2.63MX$45.12
-54.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46โฌ1.26
$1.49MX$25.53
-2.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30โฌ1.98
$1.92MX$32.94
19.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.00โฌ3.45
$2.09MX$35.81
91.39%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71โฌ0.62
$1.86MX$31.88
-61.83%
Onion(1kg)
$0.72โฌ0.62
$2.26MX$38.81
-68.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40โฌ1.21
$1.06MX$18.23
32.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71โฌ0.61
$1.09MX$18.67
-34.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.73โฌ4.94
$4.15MX$71.2
38.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.55โฌ3.06
$10.39MX$178
-65.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.67โฌ0.58
$1.72MX$29.59
-61.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40โฌ1.21
$2.61MX$44.85
-46.36%
๐ Getting Around
Roลพลava
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18โฌ1.02
$0.54MX$9.30
118.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.20โฌ25.16
$26.94MX$462
8.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.36โฌ2.03
$3.13MX$53.7
-24.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85โฌ0.73
$2.51MX$43.09
-66.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.14โฌ12.18
$3.15MX$54.1
348.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.83โฌ1.57
$1.27MX$21.88
44.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9Kโฌ21.4K
$30.4KMX$521.3K
-18.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5Kโฌ21.9K
$23.6KMX$404.5K
8.08%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Roลพลava
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$229โฌ197
$83.0MX$1,425
175.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.45โฌ24.51
$22.71MX$390
25.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.81โฌ19.65
$29.46MX$506
-22.57%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Roลพลava
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.75โฌ36.83
$51.0MX$875
-16.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16โฌ14.79
$18.33MX$315
-6.38%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58โฌ7.39
$4.93MX$84.5
74.04%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Roลพลava
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$458โฌ394
$197MX$3,386
131.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,320โฌ6,307
$5,280MX$90.6K
38.64%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Roลพลava
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.1โฌ52.6
$36.90MX$633
65.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.53โฌ27.17
$39.89MX$685
-20.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.3โฌ70.9
$80.0MX$1,373
2.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103โฌ88.9
$89.5MX$1,536
15.36%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Roลพลava
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$586โฌ505
$956MX$16.4K
-38.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$487โฌ420
$477MX$8,189
2.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963โฌ830
$1,646MX$28.3K
-41.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$753โฌ649
$1,225MX$21.0K
-38.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,918MX$67.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,459MX$110.9K
-
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Roลพลava
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$667MX$11.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.16
11.42
-63.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Roลพลava: June 9, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $586 in Roลพลava versus $956 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.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Roลพลava versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $217 vs $250 โ making Roลพลava 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
Roลพลava vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Roลพลava?
Yes โ Roลพลava is pricier by about 8%, 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 $2,064 per month in Roลพลava and $1,906 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ 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 Roลพลava vs Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,376 in Roลพลava and $1,271 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category โ it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 8% 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 Roลพลava or Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,271, than in Roลพลava at $1,376. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Roลพลava it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Roลพลava or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen โ lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Roลพลava 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 โ 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, Roลพลava makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.