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

😐 Solo nomad: Thames is 13.3% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 49.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Thames is 39.5% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 30.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Thames
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.13 NZ$25.72
$11.61 MX$200
30.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.3 NZ$135
$42.75 MX$738
85.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.56 NZ$16.25
$10.60 MX$183
-9.81%
Cappuccino
$3.40 NZ$5.77
$3.59 MX$62.0
-5.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 NZ$4.03
$1.45 MX$25.08
63.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 NZ$3.74
$0.90 MX$15.50
144.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.20 NZ$12.25
$3.03 MX$52.4
137.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.45 NZ$12.67
$4.56 MX$78.8
63.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Thames
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.80 NZ$3.06
$1.45 MX$25.07
24.14%
White Bread (500g)
$2.10 NZ$3.58
$1.83 MX$31.55
14.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 NZ$3.30
$1.61 MX$27.77
20.50%
Eggs
$6.73 NZ$11.45
$2.54 MX$43.82
164.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.94 NZ$15.19
$8.54 MX$148
4.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.80 NZ$16.66
$8.47 MX$146
15.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.79 NZ$21.75
$10.86 MX$188
17.77%
Apples (1kg)
$2.81 NZ$4.78
$2.73 MX$47.13
2.93%
Banana (1kg)
$2.21 NZ$3.76
$1.49 MX$25.77
48.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.28 NZ$5.57
$1.94 MX$33.55
69.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.09 NZ$6.95
$2.16 MX$37.38
89.35%
Potato (1kg)
$2.06 NZ$3.50
$1.85 MX$31.88
11.35%
Onion (1kg)
$1.72 NZ$2.92
$2.19 MX$37.80
-21.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.96 NZ$3.32
$1.07 MX$18.52
83.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 NZ$2.17
$1.08 MX$18.71
18.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$25.44 NZ$43.25
$4.06 MX$70.1
526.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.43 NZ$17.74
$10.46 MX$181
-0.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.04 NZ$5.17
$1.65 MX$28.56
84.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 NZ$6.73
$2.55 MX$44.01
55.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Thames
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.14 NZ$3.63
$0.56 MX$9.60
282.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.9 NZ$110
$26.20 MX$453
147.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.06 NZ$3.50
$3.14 MX$54.2
-34.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.99 NZ$3.38
$2.37 MX$40.96
-16.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.67 NZ$59.0
$3.24 MX$56.0
970.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.62 NZ$2.75
$1.31 MX$22.70
23.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6K NZ$48.6K
$30.5K MX$527.4K
-6.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K NZ$37.7K
$23.8K MX$411.4K
-6.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Thames
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$142 NZ$242
$83.1 MX$1,436
71.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.66 NZ$52.1
$22.15 MX$383
38.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.31 NZ$82.1
$29.37 MX$507
64.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Thames
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.37 NZ$61.8
$51.2 MX$884
-28.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.83 NZ$20.11
$18.69 MX$323
-36.70%
Cinema Ticket
$15.19 NZ$25.83
$4.89 MX$84.4
210.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Thames
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$911 NZ$1,549
$199 MX$3,431
358.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.5K NZ$22.9K
$5,207 MX$89.9K
158.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Thames
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.3 NZ$119
$35.93 MX$621
95.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.3 NZ$85.5
$39.39 MX$680
27.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 NZ$170
$80.3 MX$1,387
24.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 NZ$213
$87.6 MX$1,512
43.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Thames
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$979 NZ$1,664
$963 MX$16.6K
1.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$784 NZ$1,333
$482 MX$8,326
62.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,583 NZ$2,691
$1,645 MX$28.4K
-3.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,414 NZ$2,404
$1,192 MX$20.6K
18.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,654 NZ$7,912
$3,957 MX$68.3K
17.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,038 NZ$5,165
$6,513 MX$112.5K
-53.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Thames
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$726 MX$12.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.37
11.42
-44.22%

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

Last update for Thames: April 12, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 2026

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

Thames vs other spots: cost of living compared

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