😐A single person spends $2,581 per month in Solihull vs $1,293 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,809 per month in Solihull vs $2,334 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,037 per month in Solihull vs $3,374 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Solihull costs about 100% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Solihull sits 88% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Solihull
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$26.69£19.73
$11.71MX$198
127.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.4£59.4
$46.59MX$788
72.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.95£8.09
$11.65MX$197
-6.01%
Cappuccino
$5.01£3.70
$4.09MX$69.2
22.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51£1.85
$1.37MX$23.23
83.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14£1.58
$0.83MX$14.09
157.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.73£4.24
$3.35MX$56.7
71.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.54£4.09
$6.91MX$117
-19.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Solihull
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.55£1.15
$1.73MX$29.20
-10.40%
White Bread(500g)
$1.86£1.38
$2.26MX$38.21
-17.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71£1.27
$1.77MX$29.91
-3.39%
Eggs
$4.22£3.12
$2.73MX$46.19
54.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.51£7.03
$9.18MX$155
3.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.57£6.34
$8.92MX$151
-3.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.06£9.66
$12.60MX$213
3.65%
Apples(1kg)
$3.41£2.52
$3.02MX$51.1
12.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57£1.16
$1.57MX$26.55
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.84£1.36
$2.13MX$35.93
-13.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.61£2.67
$2.26MX$38.28
59.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.46£1.08
$2.00MX$33.88
-27.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63£1.20
$2.06MX$34.90
-20.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.34£0.99
$1.18MX$19.94
13.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.32£0.98
$1.20MX$20.35
10.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$24.43£18.06
$4.63MX$78.4
427.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.89£6.57
$10.69MX$181
-16.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.24£1.66
$1.62MX$27.38
38.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98£1.46
$2.88MX$48.70
-31.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Solihull
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.68£1.98
$0.57MX$9.69
370.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$29.83MX$504
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29£3.17
$5.45MX$92.1
-21.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.09£3.02
$3.70MX$62.6
10.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$32.95£24.36
$5.98MX$101
451.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.03£1.50
$1.55MX$26.26
30.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K£28.7K
$22.3KMX$377.4K
73.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.9K£30.3K
$25.9KMX$438.7K
57.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Solihull
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$351£259
$89.1MX$1,507
293.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.86£13.21
$25.04MX$423
-28.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.08£35.54
$31.50MX$532
52.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Solihull
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.06£34.79
$67.8MX$1,146
-30.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$28.92MX$489
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.78£10.19
$5.05MX$85.4
172.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Solihull
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,514£1,119
$225MX$3,803
573.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.4K£18.1K
$4,222MX$71.4K
478.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Solihull
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.3£63.8
$47.44MX$802
81.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.8£40.53
$44.98MX$760
21.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113£83.8
$82.0MX$1,386
38.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110£81.6
$92.1MX$1,557
19.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Solihull
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,075£794
$1,069MX$18.1K
0.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,234£912
$405MX$6,852
204.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,191£1,619
$1,935MX$32.7K
13.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,125£1,571
$1,301MX$22.0K
63.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,623£4,157
$3,995MX$67.5K
40.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,667£2,710
$6,626MX$112.0K
-44.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Solihull
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,876£3,604
$749MX$12.7K
551.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.21
11.45
-54.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Solihull: August 29, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,075 in Solihull versus $1,069 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 551% higher in Solihull, 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 $80.0 in Solihull versus $47.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $282 vs $277 – 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
Solihull vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Solihull?
Yes – Solihull is pricier by about 100%, 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 $3,872 per month in Solihull and $1,940 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – 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 Solihull and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,581 in Solihull and $1,293 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,514 per month in Solihull and $225 in Playa del Carmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Solihull or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,293, than in Solihull at $2,581. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Solihull it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Solihull or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Solihull 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 – 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, Solihull makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.