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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,474 per month in Rumia vs $1,256 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,154 per month in Rumia vs $2,137 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,834 per month in Rumia vs $3,017 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Rumia costs about 17% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Rumia sits 10% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.73 zł 48.31

$11.99 MX$209

6.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.91 zł 159

$41.78 MX$728

0.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.60 zł 25.03

$10.75 MX$187

-38.60%

Cappuccino

$3.58 zł 13.58

$3.50 MX$60.9

2.29%

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

$1.91 zł 7.26

$1.45 MX$25.22

31.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 zł 6.12

$0.88 MX$15.41

82.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.23 zł 12.27

$2.95 MX$51.3

9.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 zł 13.70

$4.51 MX$78.6

-19.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 zł 4.05

$1.43 MX$24.94

-25.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.36 zł 5.16

$1.84 MX$31.99

-26.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.37 zł 5.21

$1.57 MX$27.31

-12.74%

Eggs

$3.88 zł 14.74

$2.51 MX$43.74

54.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.19 zł 34.88

$8.28 MX$144

10.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.60 zł 25.05

$8.43 MX$147

-21.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 zł 40.73

$10.68 MX$186

0.47%

Apples (1kg)

$1.09 zł 4.13

$2.61 MX$45.43

-58.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 zł 6.76

$1.44 MX$25.04

23.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.73 zł 6.57

$1.96 MX$34.16

-11.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.89 zł 10.98

$2.09 MX$36.47

38.28%

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 zł 3.64

$1.85 MX$32.24

-48.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 zł 4.30

$2.17 MX$37.74

-47.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.29 zł 4.90

$1.03 MX$17.96

25.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 zł 4.05

$1.07 MX$18.70

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.03 zł 19.08

$4.10 MX$71.4

22.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.99 zł 26.51

$10.17 MX$177

-31.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 zł 4.13

$1.68 MX$29.17

-35.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 zł 6.13

$2.53 MX$43.98

-35.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 zł 5.15

$0.51 MX$8.87

166.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.56 zł 131

$26.04 MX$453

32.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.18 zł 8.27

$3.23 MX$56.3

-32.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 zł 2.72

$2.41 MX$41.88

-70.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.74 zł 40.77

$3.23 MX$56.2

232.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.83 zł 6.94

$1.32 MX$23.00

38.64%

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

$33.7K zł 128.0K

$29.7K MX$517.1K

13.58%

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

$30.3K zł 115.1K

$23.7K MX$412.0K

28.24%

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

$274 zł 1,038

$82.0 MX$1,428

233.72%

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

$8.48 zł 32.18

$22.95 MX$400

-63.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.60 zł 63.0

$30.11 MX$524

-44.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.08 zł 137

$52.0 MX$905

-30.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.83 zł 75.3

$18.53 MX$323

7.02%

Cinema Ticket

$7.59 zł 28.78

$4.98 MX$86.6

52.41%

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

$344 zł 1,304

$197 MX$3,438

74.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,049 zł 30.5K

$5,336 MX$92.9K

50.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$90.0 zł 341

$35.60 MX$620

152.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.07 zł 163

$40.33 MX$702

6.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 zł 310

$78.8 MX$1,371

3.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.5 zł 355

$88.9 MX$1,549

5.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$640 zł 2,429

$947 MX$16.5K

-32.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$497 zł 1,887

$474 MX$8,254

4.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$965 zł 3,662

$1,644 MX$28.6K

-41.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$811 zł 3,076

$1,211 MX$21.1K

-33.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,149 zł 11.9K

$4,056 MX$70.6K

-22.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,325 zł 8,821

$6,470 MX$112.7K

-64.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,491 zł 5,658

$654 MX$11.4K

128.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

11.42

-40.89%

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

Last update for Rumia: July 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $640 in Rumia 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 128% higher in Rumia, 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 $42.00 in Rumia versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $249 – making Rumia 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

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

Yes – Rumia is pricier by about 17%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,211 per month in Rumia and $1,884 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 Playa del Carmen, 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 $1,474 in Rumia and $1,256 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 33% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,256, than in Rumia at $1,474. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rumia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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 Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rumia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.